Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 113

Mufti Taqi Usmani

It is not (permissible) for the Prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for the Mushriks, even if they are kinsmen, after it became clear to them that they are the people of hell.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

It is not ˹proper˺ for the Prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were close relatives, after it has become clear to the believers that they are bound for the Hellfire.

Ruwwad Translation Center

It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives, after becoming clear to them that they are the people of Blazing Fire.

A. J. Arberry

It is not for the Prophet and the believers to ask pardon for the idolaters, even though they be near kinsmen, after that it has become clear to them that they will be the inhabitants of Hell.

Abdul Haleem

It is not fitting for the Prophet and the believers to ask forgiveness for the idolaters- even if they are related to them- after having been shown that they are the inhabitants of the Blaze:

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask for the forgiveness of the associators, although they be of kin after it hath become manifest unto them that they are the fellows of the Flaming Fire.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for Pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.

Abul Ala Maududi

After it has become clear that they are condemned to the Flaming Fire, it is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask for the forgiveness of those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity even if they be near of kin.

Ahmed Ali

It is not worthy of the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for those who are idolaters, even though they may be their relatives, after they have come to know that they are destined for Hell.

Ahmed Raza Khan

It does not befit the Prophet and those who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of polytheists even if they may be their relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the people of hell.

Ali Quli Qarai

The Prophet and the faithful may not plead for the forgiveness of the polytheists, even if they should be [their] relatives, after it has become clear to them that they will be the inmates of hell.

Ali Ünal

It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask God for the forgiveness of those who associate partners with God even though they be near of kin, after it has become clear to them that they (died polytheists and therefore) are condemned to the Blazing Flame.

Amatul Rahman Omar

It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe that they should pray for protection for the polytheists (who have died without repentance) even if they be their near kinsmen, after it has become clear to them that they are the fellows of the flaming Fire.

English Literal

(It) was not to the prophet and those who believed that they ask for forgiveness to the sharers/takers of partners (with God) , and even if they were of (the) relations/near from after what was clarified/explained to them, that they are the roaring fires`/Hell`s owners/friends .

Faridul Haque

It does not befit the Prophet and those who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of polytheists even if they may be their relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the people of hell.

Hamid S. Aziz

It is not for the prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the idolaters, even though they are their kindred, after it has been made manifest to them that they are the fellows of hell.

Hilali & Khan

It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's Forgiveness for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) 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).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

They who turn (to Allah), who serve (Him), who praise (Him), who fast, who bow down, who prostrate themselves, who enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and who keep the limits of Allah -- and give good news to the believers.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

It is not (fit) for the Prophet and those who believe that they should ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even though they should be near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are inmates of the flaming fire.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

It is not for the Prophet, and those who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of idolaters even though they may be near of kin (to them) after it hath become clear that they are people of hell-fire.

Muhammad Sarwar

After it was made clear that the pagans are to be the dwellers of hell, the Prophet and the believers should not have sought forgiveness from God for them even though they may have been relatives.

Qaribullah & Darwish

It is not for the Prophet or the believers to ask forgiveness for idolaters, even though they are near kindred, after it has become clear that they are the inhabitants of Hell.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

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).

Wahiduddin Khan

It is not proper for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for polytheists, even though they are close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they have earned the punishment of Hell.

Talal Itani

It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are people of Hellfire.

Tafsir jalalayn

The following was revealed regarding the Prophet (s) asking forgiveness for his uncle Ab Tlib, and some of the Companions asking forgiveness for their idolatrous parents; It is not for the Prophet, and those who believe, to ask forgiveness for the idolaters, even though they be kinsmen, relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are inhabitants of the Hell-fire, for having died as disbelievers.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Prohibition of supplicating for Polytheists

Allah

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِي قُرْبَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ



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,

أَيْ عَمِّ قُلْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلاِّ اللهُ كَلِمَةً أُحَاجُّ لَكَ بِهَا عِنْدَ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَل

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,

لَاأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ مَا لَمْ أُنْهَ عَنْك

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

This verse was revealed,

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِي قُرْبَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ

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,

إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَأءُ

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,

إِنِّي اسْتَأْذَنْتُ رَبِّي فِي زِيَارَةِ قَبْرِ أُمِّي فَأَذِنَ لِي وَاسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ فِي الاْسْتِغْفَارِ لَهَا فَلَمْ يَأْذَنْ لِي

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,
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ
(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,

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلّم قَدِ اسْتَغْفَرَ لاَِبِيه

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

Allah revealed