Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: I heard a man seeking forgiveness for his polytheist parents. I said: Are you seeking forgiveness for your polytheist parents? He said: Did not Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him) seek forgiveness for his polytheist father? When I mentioned this to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), these verses were revealed: {مَا کَانَ لِلنَّبِیِّ وَالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَنْ یَّسْتَغْفِرُوْا لِلْمُشْرِکِیْنَ وَلَوْ کَانُوْٓا اُولِیْ قُرْبٰی مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَھُمْ اَنَّھُمْ اَصْحٰبُ الْجَحِیْمِ۔ وَمَا کَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ اِبْرٰہِیْمَ لِاَبِیْہِ اِلَّا عَنْ مَّوْعِدَۃٍ وَّعَدَھَآ اِیَّاہُ فَلَمَّا تَـبَیَّنَ لَہٓ اَنَّہ عَدُوٌّ لِّلّٰہِ تَبَرَّاَ مِنْہُ اِنَّ اِبْرٰہِیْمَ لَاَوَّاہٌ حَلِیْمٌ۔ } … It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the companions of Hellfire. And the seeking of forgiveness by Ibrahim for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him, but when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Indeed, Ibrahim was most tender-hearted, forbearing.

It is narrated from Musayyib that when the time of Abu Talib’s death approached, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered upon him, while Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Umayyah were also sitting with him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: O my uncle, say: LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAH (There is no god but Allah), this is a word by which I will argue for you before Allah. Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Umayyah said: O Abu Talib! Will you turn away from the religion of Abdul Muttalib? They kept repeating this and inciting him until Abu Talib’s last words were that he was (dying) upon the religion of Abdul Muttalib. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I will continue to seek forgiveness for you until I am forbidden. Then this verse was revealed: {مَا کَانَ لِلنَّبِیِّ وَالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَنْ یَّسْتَغْفِرُوْا لِلْمُشْرِکِیْنَ وَلَوْ کَانُوْٓا اُولِیْ قُرْبٰی مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَھُمْ اَنَّھُمْ اَصْحٰبُ الْجَحِیْمِ۔} … It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire. And this verse was also revealed: {اِنَّکَ لَا تَہْدِیْ مَنْ اَحْبَبْتَ وَلٰکِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَہْدِیْ مَنْ یَّشَائُ وَہُوَ اَعْلَمُ بِالْمُہْتَدِیْنَ۔} … Surely, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills, and He knows best those who are guided.