Surah Tawbah ayat 114 Tafsir Quran 9:114

﴿وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ﴾
[ التوبة: 114]

9:114 And the request of forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Abraham that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Abraham compassionate and patient.

Abraham’s prayer for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had made to him when he said to him I will ask my Lord forgiveness for you Q. 1947 in the hope that he would submit to God; but when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of God upon his death as an disbeliever he declared himself innocent of him and refrained from asking forgiveness for him; truly Abraham was soft of heart making frequent entreaty and supplication to God forbearing enduring harm patiently.

The invocatory prayer made by Ibrahim on behalf of his father was in fulfillment of a promise he had made to him. But when he realized that his father was an avowed enemy to Allah, he declared his innocence of his ills and of his fatherhood. Indeed Ibrahim constantly implored Allah with touching entreaties, and forbearance was an attribute of his

The Prohibition of supplicating for Polytheists 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 إِلِّا 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,
«لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ 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 لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِى قُرْبَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَـبُ 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 لاَ تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ( 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 الْاسْتِغْفَارِ 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 لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ 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 لِأَبِيه»
( Ibrahim, Allah's Khalil, invoked Allah for his father. ) Allah revealed, وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَهِيمَ لاًّبِيهِ إِلاَّ عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ ( And Ibrahim's invoking (of Allah ) for his father's forgiveness was only because of a promise he Ibrahim had made to him ( his father )).
" `Ali bin Abi Talhah narrated that Ibn `Abbas commented on this Ayah, "They used to invoke Allah for them ( pagans ) until this Ayah was revealed.
They then refrained from invoking Allah to forgive the dead among them, but were not stopped from invoking Allah for the living among them until they die.
Allah sent this Ayah, وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَهِيمَ لاًّبِيهِ ( And Ibrahim's invoking (of Allah ) for his father's forgiveness was only...) 9:114." Allah said next, فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ( But when it became clear to him Ibrahim that he (his father ) is an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him) 9:114.
Ibn `Abbas commented, "Ibrahim kept asking Allah to forgive his father until he died, when he realized that he died as an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him." In another narration, he said, "When his father died he realized that he died as an enemy of Allah." Similar was said by Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah and several others.
`Ubayd bin `Umayr and Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "Ibrahim will disown his father on the Day of Resurrection, but he will meet his father and see dust and fatigue on his face.
He will say, `O Ibrahim! I disobeyed you, but today, I will not disobey you.' Ibrahim will say, `O Lord! You promised me that You will not disgrace me on the Day they are resurrected.
What more disgrace than witnessing my father being disgraced' He will be told, `Look behind you,' where he will see a bloody hyena -- for his father will have been transformed into that -- and it will be dragged from its feet and thrown in the Fire."' Allah's statement, إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ لأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ ( Verily, Ibrahim was Awwah and was forbearing. ) means, he invoked Allah always, according to `Abdullah bin Mas`ud.
Several narrations report this from Ibn Mas`ud.
It was also said that, `Awwah', means, `who invokes Allah with humility', `merciful', `who believes with certainty', `who praises ( Allah )', and so forth.

(9:114) As regards the prayer of Abraham for his father, it was only to fulfil a promise he had made to him, *112 but when he realized that he was an enemy of Allah, he disowned him. The fact is that Abraham was a tender-hearted, Godfearing and forbearing man. *113

And the request of forgiveness of Abraham meaning

*112) The reference is to what Prophet Abraham said when he broke off all connections with his father:
( 1 ).....Peace be upon you.
I will pray to my Lord to forgive you: for He is very kind to me" .
( XIX: 47 ).

( 2 ) "And forgive my father: indeed he is of those who have gone astray.
And disgrace me not on the Day, when mankind shall be brought back to life; when neither riches nor children shall avail anyone, and none shall obtain salvation except the one who comes before his Lord with a sound and pure heart" .
( XXVI: 86-89 ).

( 3 ).
.
.
.
.I will pray for your forgiveness, but I have no power to rescue you from Allah .
.
.
.
.
" ( LX: 4 ).

In the first place it should be noted that even the wording and the tone of the prayer for his father were very guarded, but when Prophet Abraham realized that the person for whom he was praying was an open rebel against Allah and a bitter enemy of His Way, he refrained himself from saying even such a guarded prayer for him and declared in clear words that he would have nothing to do with him in future, even though the rebel was his father who had brought him up with love and care.

*113) The words- .yi ( swab ) and ( hatim ) which the Qur'an uses for Prophet Abraham are very comprehensive in meaning.
Avvah is the one who is lamenting, humble, weeping, grief-stricken and Godfearing.
And hatim is the one who can keep control over himself under all circumstances, and is neither beside himself in anger and enmity nor transgresses the proper limits in his affections, friendships and relationships.
Here both the words have been used in their comprehensive senses.
Prophet Abraham prayed for his father because he was tender-hearted and lamented for him that he would become the fuel for the fire of Hell.
As he had full control over himself, and was very forbearing, he prayed even for that father who had persecuted him cruelly in order to hinder him from the Way of Islam.
Lastly, he was Godfearing and did not want to go beyond the limits in his love for his father; so he broke off all his relations with his father when he realized that he was an enemy of Allah.

 

The Prohibition of supplicating for Polytheists 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 إِلِّا 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, «لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ 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 لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِى قُرْبَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَـبُ 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 لاَ تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ( 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 الْاسْتِغْفَارِ 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 لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ 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 لِأَبِيه» ( Ibrahim, Allah's Khalil, invoked Allah for his father. ) Allah revealed, وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَهِيمَ لاًّبِيهِ إِلاَّ عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ ( And Ibrahim's invoking (of Allah ) for his father's forgiveness was only because of a promise he Ibrahim had made to him ( his father )).
" `Ali bin Abi Talhah narrated that Ibn `Abbas commented on this Ayah, "They used to invoke Allah for them ( pagans ) until this Ayah was revealed.
They then refrained from invoking Allah to forgive the dead among them, but were not stopped from invoking Allah for the living among them until they die.
Allah sent this Ayah, وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَهِيمَ لاًّبِيهِ ( And Ibrahim's invoking (of Allah ) for his father's forgiveness was only...) 9:114." Allah said next, فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ( But when it became clear to him Ibrahim that he (his father ) is an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him) 9:114.
Ibn `Abbas commented, "Ibrahim kept asking Allah to forgive his father until he died, when he realized that he died as an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him." In another narration, he said, "When his father died he realized that he died as an enemy of Allah." Similar was said by Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah and several others.
`Ubayd bin `Umayr and Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "Ibrahim will disown his father on the Day of Resurrection, but he will meet his father and see dust and fatigue on his face.
He will say, `O Ibrahim! I disobeyed you, but today, I will not disobey you.' Ibrahim will say, `O Lord! You promised me that You will not disgrace me on the Day they are resurrected.
What more disgrace than witnessing my father being disgraced' He will be told, `Look behind you,' where he will see a bloody hyena -- for his father will have been transformed into that -- and it will be dragged from its feet and thrown in the Fire."' Allah's statement, إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ لأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ ( Verily, Ibrahim was Awwah and was forbearing. ) means, he invoked Allah always, according to `Abdullah bin Mas`ud.
Several narrations report this from Ibn Mas`ud.
It was also said that, `Awwah', means, `who invokes Allah with humility', `merciful', `who believes with certainty', `who praises ( Allah )', and so forth.

( The prayer of Abraham for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had promised him ) that he would surrender, ( but when it had become clear unto him that he (his father ) was an enemy to Allah) that he had died an unbeliever ( he (Abraham ) disowned him) and his religion. ( Lo! Abraham was soft of heart ) in the face of ignorance, ( long-suffering ) compassionate; it is also said that Abraham used to complain about fire even before being thrown in it.

And [Ibrahim's (Abraham)] invoking (of Allah) for his father's forgiveness was only because of a promise he [Ibrahim (Abraham)] had made to him (his father). But when it became clear to him [Ibrahim (Abraham)] that he (his father) is an enemy to Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Verily Ibrahim (Abraham) was Al-Awwah (has fifteen different meanings but the correct one seems to be that he used to invoke Allah with humility, glorify Him and remember Him much), and was forbearing. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi).

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