The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 759
PT. 11 AT-TAUBAH CH. 9 وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا And Abraham's asking. 114 E forgiveness for his father was عَنْ مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ only because of a promise he had made to him, but when it أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّاً مِنْهُ إِنَّ اِبْرهِم became clear to him that he was لَاوَاهُ حَلِيمٌ an enemy to Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Surely, Abraham was most tender- hearted, and forbearing. 1263 "19:48; 26:87; 60:5. '11:76. disbelievers, if and when called upon to do so. It is in two ways that it can become "plain" that an idolater or a disbeliever is an inmate of Hell: firstly, if and when God informs His Prophet through some revelation that a certain idolater will not believe and will die as a disbeliever; secondly, when an idolater actually dies without repenting of idolatry. In either case, it is not permissible to pray for such idolaters. In ordinary circumstances, however, it is not disallowed to pray for disbelievers. The Holy Prophet is reported to have once said, "There lived a Prophet who, even though he was severely wounded by his people, went on praying to God, saying, 'My Lord, forgive my people, for they know not what they are doing. " It was really to himself that the Holy Prophet referred in this saying. He was referring to the treatment he received at the hands of the people of Ta'if, and to the prayer that he, while bleeding and wounded, offered for them. 1263. Important Words: intensive adjective from 8,. They say, 8 or 8, i. e. he said, Ah! or Alas! he moaned or uttered a moan; or he gave prolonged utterance to distress or complaint. 8, means, one who is often saying, Ah! or Alas! from a motive of love or pity or fear; one often moaning or mourning or sorrowing; compassionate or tender- hearted; one often praying; one who praises God greatly or glorifies Him much; one who addresses himself with earnest supplication to God, confident that his prayer will be accepted; one inviting much or often to what is good (Lane). Commentary: The preceding verse declares that praying for disbelievers, after it has become clear that they are inmates of Hell, is forbidden. The present verse explains a prayer which Abraham offered for his idolatrous father on the basis that he had made a promise to do so. Abraham, however, was not slow in dissociating himself from his father as soon as it became clear to him that he was an enemy of 83 (most tender-hearted) is the God. The verse ends with words 1199