سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 113
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى قُرْبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ﴿113﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allâh’s Forgiveness for the Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh), even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَا
mā
Not
كَانَ
kāna
(it) is
لِلنَّبِىِّ
lilnnabiyyi
for the Prophet
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
and those who
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
believe
أَن
an
that
يَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟
yastaghfirū
they ask forgiveness
لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ
lil'mush'rikīna
for the polytheists
وَلَوْ
walaw
even though
كَانُوٓا۟
kānū
they be
أُو۟لِى
ulī
near of kin
قُرْبَىٰ
qur'bā
near of kin
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
مَا
mā
[what]
تَبَيَّنَ
tabayyana
has become clear
لَهُمْ
lahum
to them
أَنَّهُمْ
annahum
that they
أَصْحَـٰبُ
aṣḥābu
(are the) companions
ٱلْجَحِيمِ
l-jaḥīmi
(of) the Hellfire
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
113. It is not appropriate for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness [129] for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the companions of Hell.
[129] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born an orphan. Until the age of eight, he ﷺ was raised under the care of his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib. Then Abdul Muttalib also passed away, and he entrusted him ﷺ to his uncle, Abu Talib. Abu Talib raised him ﷺ with great love and affection. When, at the age of forty, he ﷺ proclaimed prophethood, his people became his enemies, but Abu Talib gave him ﷺ full support, and despite not accepting Islam, Abu Talib stood by him ﷺ in every difficult time and acted as a shield for him ﷺ. He stayed with him ﷺ for three years in Sha‘b Abi Talib. The Prophet ﷺ also had great love for Abu Talib. In the eighth year of prophethood, Abu Talib passed away, which caused the Prophet ﷺ great grief. The Prophet ﷺ, being moved by Abu Talib’s paternal affection and his services to Islam, promised to seek forgiveness for him, as is clear from the following hadith.
The Prohibition of Seeking Forgiveness for the Polytheists and the Story of Abu Talib:
Musayyib bin Hazn (the father of Sa‘id bin Musayyib) says that when the time of Abu Talib’s death came, the Prophet ﷺ went to him. At that time, Abu Jahl was sitting with him. The Prophet ﷺ said to Abu Talib, “Uncle, say La ilaha illallah, so that I may have an argument before my Lord (for your forgiveness).” Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said, “Will you leave the religion of Abdul Muttalib?” Both kept insisting on this, and finally, the last thing Abu Talib said was, “I die upon the religion of Abdul Muttalib.” At that time, the Prophet ﷺ said, “I will continue to seek forgiveness for you until I am forbidden to do so.” Then this verse was revealed: [بخاري۔ كتاب المناقب۔ قصه ابي طالب]
From this hadith, it is understood that before the revelation of this verse, it was not prohibited to seek forgiveness for the polytheists.
[129] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was born an orphan. Until the age of eight, he ﷺ was raised under the care of his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib. Then Abdul Muttalib also passed away, and he entrusted him ﷺ to his uncle, Abu Talib. Abu Talib raised him ﷺ with great love and affection. When, at the age of forty, he ﷺ proclaimed prophethood, his people became his enemies, but Abu Talib gave him ﷺ full support, and despite not accepting Islam, Abu Talib stood by him ﷺ in every difficult time and acted as a shield for him ﷺ. He stayed with him ﷺ for three years in Sha‘b Abi Talib. The Prophet ﷺ also had great love for Abu Talib. In the eighth year of prophethood, Abu Talib passed away, which caused the Prophet ﷺ great grief. The Prophet ﷺ, being moved by Abu Talib’s paternal affection and his services to Islam, promised to seek forgiveness for him, as is clear from the following hadith.
The Prohibition of Seeking Forgiveness for the Polytheists and the Story of Abu Talib:
Musayyib bin Hazn (the father of Sa‘id bin Musayyib) says that when the time of Abu Talib’s death came, the Prophet ﷺ went to him. At that time, Abu Jahl was sitting with him. The Prophet ﷺ said to Abu Talib, “Uncle, say La ilaha illallah, so that I may have an argument before my Lord (for your forgiveness).” Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said, “Will you leave the religion of Abdul Muttalib?” Both kept insisting on this, and finally, the last thing Abu Talib said was, “I die upon the religion of Abdul Muttalib.” At that time, the Prophet ﷺ said, “I will continue to seek forgiveness for you until I am forbidden to do so.” Then this verse was revealed: [بخاري۔ كتاب المناقب۔ قصه ابي طالب]
From this hadith, it is understood that before the revelation of this verse, it was not prohibited to seek forgiveness for the polytheists.
