Mukhtasar Muslim

Saeed bin Musayyib (who is among the famous Tabi'in) narrates from his father (Sayyiduna Musayyib bin Hazn bin Amr bin Abid bin Imran bin Makhzum al-Qurashi al-Makhzumi, who is a Companion) that he said: When Abu Talib bin Abdul Muttalib (the real uncle and guardian of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him) was about to die, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to him and saw Abu Jahl (Amr bin Hisham) and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah bin Mughirah sitting there. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: O uncle, say a word—La ilaha illallah (there is no god but Allah)—so that I may testify for you before Allah (i.e., I will plead to Allah Almighty on the Day of Resurrection that Abu Talib was a monotheist and should be saved from Hell, as he professed the word of Tawheed at the last moment). Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said: O Abu Talib! Will you forsake the religion of Abdul Muttalib? And the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, kept repeating this to him (i.e., urging him to recite the word of Tawheed), while Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah kept saying their own words, until the last thing Abu Talib said was: I am on the religion of Abdul Muttalib, and he refused to say La ilaha illallah. So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: By Allah, I will surely seek forgiveness for you (i.e., for your pardon) unless I am forbidden. Then Allah Almighty revealed this verse: "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." (Surah At-Tawbah: 113) And Allah Almighty revealed this verse about Abu Talib, addressing the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "Indeed, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided." (Surah Al-Qasas: 56).