سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 114
وَمَا كَانَ ٱسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥٓ أَنَّهُۥ عَدُوٌّ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَأَوَّٰهٌ حَلِيمٌ ﴿114﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
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).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
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 — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 ]
➋ { 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.
➋ { 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.
