Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:113

The Prohibition of supplicating for Polytheists Allah

ما كان للنبي والذين آمنوا أن يستغفروا للمشركين ولو كانوا أولي قربى من بعد ما تبين لهم أنهم أصحاب الجحيم

It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the Mushrikin, 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). Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Al-Musayyib said that his father Al-Musayyib said, "When Abu Talib was dying, the Prophet went to him and found Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah present. The Prophet said,

أي عم قل ﻻ إله إﻻ الله كلمة أحاج لك بها عند الله عز وجل

O uncle! Say, `La ilaha illa-llah,' a word concerning which I will plea for you with Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored. Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said, `O Abu Talib! Would you leave the religion of Abdul-Muttalib!' Abu Talib said, `Rather, I will remain on the religion of Abdul-Muttalib.' The Prophet said,

ﻻأستغفرن لك ما لم أنه عنك

I will invoke Allah for forgiveness for you, as long as I am not prohibited from doing so. This verse was revealed,

ما كان للنبي والذين آمنوا أن يستغفروا للمشركين ولو كانوا أولي قربى من بعد ما تبين لهم أنهم أصحاب الجحيم

It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the Mushrikin, even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire.) Concerning Abu Talib, this Ayah was revealed,

إنك ﻻ تهدى من أحببت ولكن الله يهدى من يشاء

Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills." (28:56) This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs. Ibn Jarir recorded that Sulayman bin Buraydah said that his father said, "When the Prophet came to Makkah, he went to a grave, sat next to it, started talking and then stood up with tears in his eyes. We said, `O Allah's Messenger! We saw what you did.' He said,

إني استٲذنت ربي في زيارة قبر أمي فٲذن لي واستٲذنته في اﻻستغفار لها فلم يٲذن لي

I asked my Lord for permission to visit the grave of my mother and He gave me permission. I asked for His permission to invoke Him for forgiveness for her, but He did not give me permission. We never saw him more tearful than on that day.''' Al-Awfi narrated from Ibn Abbas about Allah's statement,

ما كان للنبي والذين آمنوا أن يستغفروا للمشركين

(It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the Mushrikin, "The Prophet wanted to invoke Allah for forgiveness for his mother, but Allah did not allow him. The Prophet said,

إن إبراهيم خليل الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قد استغفر ﻻبيه

Ibrahim, Allah's Khalil, invoked Allah for his father. Allah revealed,