Surah Al-Baqarah Ayat 48 (2:48 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

(2:48) Fear the Day when no one shall avail another, when no intercession will be accepted, when no one will be ransomed, and no criminal will receive any help.^[63]

63. A major reason for the degeneration of the Israelites was the corruption of their beliefs about the After that since they were related to those venerable saints and pious men who had dedicated themselves entirely to the service of God in the past, the, would be forgiven by the grace of those great men. They believed that once they had bound themselves firmly to those men of God, it would become impossible for God to punish them. Such false reliance made them negligent of true religious piety and enmeshed them in a life of sin and wickedness. Hence, as well as reminding the Children of Israel of God’s favour upon them, it was necessary to refute all the false ideas which they cherished.

Ibn-Kathir

48. And fear a Day (of Judgement) when a person shall not avail another, nor will intercession be accepted from him, nor will compensation be taken from him, nor will they be helped.

After Allah reminded the Children of Israel of the favors that He has granted them, He warned them about the duration of the torment which He will punish them with on the Day of Resurrection. He said,

(And fear a Day) meaning, the Day of Resurrection,

(When a person shall not avail another) meaning, on that Day, no person shall be of any help to another. Similarly, Allah said,

(And no bearer of burdens shall bear another’s burden) (35:18)

(Every man that Day will have enough to make him careless of others.) (80:37) and,

(O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord (by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all evil), and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father) (31: 33).

This indeed should serve as a great warning that both the father and the son will not be of help to each other on that Day.

Allah said,

(nor will intercession be accepted from him)

meaning, from the disbelievers. Similarly, Allah said,

(So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them) (74:48) and described the people of the Fire saying,

(Now we have no intercessors. Nor a close friend (to help us)) (26:100-101).

Allah’s statement here (2:48)

(nor will compensation be taken from him) means, that Allah does not accept the disbelievers to ransom themselves. Similarly, Allah said,

(Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them even if they offered it as a ransom) (3:91)

(Verily, those who disbelieve, if they had all that is in the earth, and as much again therewith to ransom themselves from the torment on the Day of Resurrection, it would never be accepted of them, and theirs would be a painful torment) (5:36)

(And even if he offers every ransom, it will not be accepted from him) (6:70) and,

(So this Day no ransom shall be taken from you (hypocrites), nor of those who disbelieved. Your abode is the Fire. That is your Mawla (friend ـ proper place)) (57:15).

Allah stated that if the people do not believe in His Messenger and follow what He sent him with, then when they meet Him on the Day of Resurrection, after remaining on the path of disbelief, their family lineage and/or the intercession of their masters will not help them at all. It will not be accepted of them, even if they paid the earth’s fill of gold as ransom. Similarly, Allah said,

(Before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession) (2:254) and,

(On which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending) (19:31). Allah’s statement next,

(nor will they be helped.) means, “no person shall get angry – or anxious – on their behalf and offer them any help, or try to save them from Allah’s punishment.” As stated earlier on that Day, neither the relative, nor persons of authority will feel pity for the disbelievers, nor will any ransom be accepted for them. Consequently, they will receive no help from others and they will be helpless themsleves. Allah said,

(While He (Allah) grants refuge (or protection), but none grants refuge from Him) (23:88)

(So on that Day none will punish as He will punish. And none will bind (the wicked, disbelievers and polytheists) as He will bind) (89:25-26)

(“What is the matter with you Why do you not help one another (as you used to do in the world)” Nay, but that Day they shall surrender) (37:25-26) and,

(Then why did those whom they had taken for alihah (gods) besides Allah, as a way of approach (to Allah) not help them Nay, but they vanished completely from them) (46:28).

Also, Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas said that Allah’s statement,

(“What is the matter with you Why do you not help one another”) (37:25) means, “This Day, you shall not have a refuge from Us. Not this Day.” Ibn Jarir said that Allah’s statement,

(nor will they be helped.) meaning, on that Day, they shall neither be helped by any helper, nor shall anyone intercede on their behalf. No repeal or ransom will be accepted for them, all courtesy towards them will have ceased, along with any helpful intercession. No type of help or cooperation will be available for them on that Day. The judgment will, on that Day, be up to the Most Great, the Most Just, against whom no intercessor or helper can ever assist. He will then award the evil deed its kind and will multiply the good deeds. This is similar to Allah’s statement,

(But stop them, verily, they are to be questioned. “What is the matter with you Why do you not help one another” Nay, but that Day they shall surrender) (37:24-26).