Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d Sa’idi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “O Allah! Forgive my people, for they do not know.”
(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) What is meant by this is that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) made this supplication on the day of the Battle of Uhud, when his face was wounded. He said: “O Lord! Forgive my people.” That is, forgive them for the sin they committed by wounding my face. This does not mean that forgiveness was being sought for the disbelievers, because if at that time you had prayed for their forgiveness, they would have certainly become Muslim at that very moment.