سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ

Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 114

The Repentance · Medinan · Juz 11 · Page 205

وَمَا كَانَ ٱسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥٓ أَنَّهُۥ عَدُوٌّ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَأَوَّٰهٌ حَلِيمٌ ﴿114﴾
And Ibrâhîm’s (Abraham) invoking (of Allâh) for his father’s forgiveness was only because of a promise he [Ibrâhîm (Abraham)] had made to him (his father). But when it became clear to him [Ibrâhîm (Abraham)] that he (his father) is an enemy of Allâh, he dissociated himself from him. Verily Ibrâhîm (Abraham) was Awwah (one who invokes Allâh with humility, glorifies Him and remembers Him much) and was forbearing. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubî).
وَمَا wamā And not
كَانَ kāna was
ٱسْتِغْفَارُ is'tigh'fāru (the) asking of forgiveness
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ib'rāhīma (by) Ibrahim
لِأَبِيهِ li-abīhi for his father
إِلَّا illā except
عَن ʿan because
مَّوْعِدَةٍۢ mawʿidatin (of) a promise
وَعَدَهَآ waʿadahā he had promised it
إِيَّاهُ iyyāhu (to) him
فَلَمَّا falammā But when
تَبَيَّنَ tabayyana it became clear
لَهُۥٓ lahu to him
أَنَّهُۥ annahu that he
عَدُوٌّۭ ʿaduwwun (was) an enemy
لِّلَّهِ lillahi to Allah
تَبَرَّأَ tabarra-a he disassociated
مِنْهُ ۚ min'hu from him
إِنَّ inna Indeed
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ib'rāhīma Ibrahim
لَأَوَّٰهٌ la-awwāhun (was) compassionate
حَلِيمٌۭ ḥalīmun forbearing

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 114) ➊ {وَ مَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ لِاَبِيْهِ … :} It is narrated from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that I heard a man seeking forgiveness for his parents, while they were polytheists. I said, "You are praying for their forgiveness while they were polytheists?" So he said, "Did not Ibrahim (peace be upon him) seek forgiveness for his father?" So I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and mentioned this matter to him, then this verse was revealed: «{ وَ مَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ لِاَبِيْهِ اِلَّا عَنْ مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَّعَدَهَاۤ اِيَّاهُ "And the seeking of forgiveness by Ibrahim for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him." [ نسائی، الجنائز، باب النہی عن الاستغفار للمشرکین : ۲۰۳۸، و حسنہ الألبانی ] Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made this promise to his polytheist father when he expelled him from the house because of his invitation to monotheism. See Surah Maryam (47). So, as per the promise, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) prayed for his father's forgiveness. See Surah Ash-Shu'ara (86). On the Day of Resurrection, he will also intercede, saying, "O Allah! What greater disgrace is there for me than my father being in Hell?" Then it will be commanded, "Look towards your feet." He will see that his father's form has been turned into a filthy badger in filth, and the angels will seize him by the feet and throw him into Hell, so that no one recognizes him as the father of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and thus he is not disgraced. Allah Almighty saved His Khalil from disgrace but did not save the polytheist from Hell. [دیکھیے بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : «واتخذ اللہ إبراھیم خلیلا … » : ۳۳۵۰ ]

{ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهٗۤ اَنَّهٗ عَدُوٌّ لِّلّٰهِ تَبَرَّاَ مِنْهُ:} That is, on the Day of Resurrection, after intercession, when he saw Allah Almighty's treatment with him, and it became clear that his father was eternally in Hell, deprived of human honor, and an enemy of Allah Almighty, he disassociated and became detached from him, because Allah's Khalil cannot maintain friendship or relation with the enemy of his Khalil. Thus, whatever attachment remained in his heart also ended.

➌ If a Muslim's non-believing relative or friend passes away, the Muslim may participate in his funeral and burial, but cannot pray for his forgiveness. (Ibn Kathir)

➍ The meaning of { اِنَّ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ لَاَوَّاهٌ حَلِيْمٌ: ’’ لَاَوَّاهٌ ‘‘} is "one who sighs and laments much," and this is a sign of a soft heart, meaning he used to sigh much in the presence of Allah, and was very forbearing. This explains his initial gentleness and seeking of forgiveness for his father, that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was such that if anyone treated him harshly, he would respond with gentleness.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

114. 1. That is, when it became clear to Ibrahim (AS) that my father is an enemy of Allah and is destined for Hell, he disassociated himself from him and after that did not pray for his forgiveness.

144. 2. And in the beginning, the prayer for forgiveness for his father was also due to his gentle and forbearing nature.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

114. And Abraham’s seeking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise [130] he had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed, Abraham was most tender-hearted [131] and forbearing.

[130]
The Fate of Sayyiduna Ibrahim’s Father Azar:

That is, when Sayyiduna Ibrahim’s father Azar said to him, “Leave here and get out of my sight, otherwise I will stone you to death” [19: 47], at that time he said to his father: “Peace be upon you, I am leaving, but I will continue to pray for your forgiveness, and it is not within my power to save you from Allah’s grasp” [60: 4]. Accordingly, in fulfillment of this promise, he prayed for him: “O Allah! Forgive my father, for he is among those who have gone astray, and do not disgrace me on the Day when all people will be raised” [26: 86، 87]. Then, when Sayyiduna Ibrahim realized that he would not come to the right path and that he was an enemy of Allah, he declared his disassociation from him. And the supplication he made for himself, “Do not disgrace me on the Day of Resurrection,” its details are found in the following hadith: Sayyiduna Abu Hurairahؓ says that the Prophetﷺ said, “Ibrahim will see his father Azar on the Day of Resurrection, and there will be darkness and dust on his face. He will say to him, ‘Did I not tell you not to disobey me?’ His father will say, ‘Today I will not disobey you.’ At that time, Sayyiduna Ibrahim will say, ‘O Lord! You promised me that I would not disgrace You on the Day of Resurrection. And what greater disgrace can there be than my father being in this state?’ Allah will say, ‘I have made Paradise forbidden for the disbelievers.’ Then it will be said, ‘Ibrahim, look beneath your feet.’ At that moment, he will see a polecat covered in filth in place of his father. The angels will seize it by the feet and throw it into Hell.” [بخاري كتاب الانبياء۔ باب __QUR_0__ النسآء: 125]

Thus, Allah removed disgrace from Sayyiduna Ibrahim in such a way that the form of his father was changed, and disgrace depends on recognition. When there is no recognition of what has been thrown into Hell, then there is no question of anyone’s disgrace.

[131] The meaning of “awwāh” is one who sighs, one who laments, one who prays much. It includes being tender-hearted and soft-hearted. What could be a greater example of his tenderness than this: the father says, “Leave here or I will stone you,” and he replies, “I am leaving, peace be upon you, and I will seek forgiveness from my Lord for you.”