At-Tawba (The Repentance)

114. “And Abraham’s seeking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. So when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he declared himself quit of him. Verily Abraham was tenderhearted and forbearing.”

The previous verse denoted that the Prophet (S) and the true believers have not any pray for the polytheists, even though they are from their relatives. This verse answers to a doubious thing that why Abraham (as) gave his uncle a promise of asking for forgiveness, saying

“…I will pray to my Lord forgive you…” (Surah Maryam, No. 19, verse 47).

The abovementioned verse indicates that Abraham’s promise was with the hope that he might be guided, but when he saw that his uncle was in the state of disbelief, Abraham left asking forgiveness for him. The verse says:

“And Abraham’s seeking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. So when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he declared himself quit of him. Verily Abraham was tenderhearted and forbearing.”

Another question is why Abraham prayed for him after his death, and he said:

“O’ our Lord! Forgive me and my parents…” (Surah’Ibrāhim, No. 14, verse 41).

The answer to this question is that the Arabic word /wālid / is applied in the sense of the real father, while the term /’ab / is used in the sense of either father, teacher, father-in-law, and grand father.

This supplication of Abraham was for his real father, not for his uncle who was a polytheist. So, the Qur’ān in its eleven verses refers to Abraham’s uncle by using the word /’ab / in order that it makes clear that Abraham (as) had been under the guardianship of what kind of a person, but he had not been affected.