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 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.
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.”
[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.”
