O you who acknowledge, do not say, "Shepherd us," but say, "Pay attention to us," and listen. For the ingrates is a painful retribution.
Translation endnotes
[2:104] The word raina (shepherd us) implies to be led like sheep. Muslims do not and should not follow anyone blindly, including prophets, without using their intelligence, reasoning and senses. However, the Bible uses the shepherd/sheep analogy to depict the relationship between people and their leaders. "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd" Ezekiel 34:23. Jesus Christ is likened to a good shepherd (John 10:14; Heb 13:20). Kings and leaders are compared to shepherds (Isaiah 44:28; Jeremiah 6:3; 49:19). Ministers of the gospel too are likened to shepherds (Isaiah 56:11; Jeremiah 50:6; Jeremiah 23:4; Ezekiel 34:2, 10). Also, see Zechariah 10:2; Psalms 78:52; Psalms 119:176. This metaphor would be abused to its full capacity by St. Paul, the dubious figure who distorted the monotheistic message of Jesus after his departure. St. Paul fabricated many stories and practices, including the justification of receiving money for preaching. When the true followers of the Injeel, that is, the Good News, criticized him, he defended his "milking" the congregation, thereby twisting the original purpose of this Biblical metaphor. See 1 Corinthians 9:7.