About the Surah
Surah Title : التوبة
English Title : At-Taubah
Order in Al-Mushaf : 9
Number of Verses : 129
Type : madinah
Page Number in Al-Mushaf : From Page 187 To Page 207
At-Taubah
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن يَسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ وَلَوۡ كَانُوٓاْ أُوْلِي قُرۡبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ
113It is not allowed that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) or the believers ask Allah’s Forgiveness for idolaters even though they are close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the residents of Hell.
113The reason for descending the verse
Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab narrated from his father,he said, “When Abu Talib was about to die, the Prophet (s.a.w) entered in on him while Abu Jahl and 'Abd Allah ibn Abi Umayyah were present. He said, 'O uncle, say with me, there is no god but Allah, so that I can plead with Allah in your favour'. Abu Jahl and Ibn Abi Umayyah said, 'O Abu Talib, will you shun the religion of 'Abd al-Muttalib?' And they kept talking to him such that the last thing he uttered was, 'I follow the religion of 'Abd al-Muttalib'. The Prophet (s.a.w) then said, 'I will pray for your forgiveness as long as I am not forbidden from doing it'. This verse was then revealed (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)” (Al-Wahidi,Reasons of Revelation)
