84 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADrelated to them that Ma'mar informed them, from al-Zuhri, from Ibn
al-Musayyab, from his father, God bless him, that Abn Talib was close to death
when the Prophet (SAAS), along vith Abii Jahl, went in to see him. He (the
Prophet) said, 'Uncle, say, "There is no god but God!" One statement; (and) I
will plead with God thereby on your behalf.'
"Abti Jahl and 'Abd Allah b. Abii Umayya then said, '0 Ahii Talih, are you
leaving the faith of 'Abd al-Muttalib?' And they both continued talking to him
until he spoke his last words to them, namely, '... in the faith of 'Abd
al-Munalib.'
"The Prophet (SAAS) said, 'I will seek forgiveness for you for as long as I am
not restrained from doing so.'
"And so there was revealed, 'It is not appropriate for the Prophet and for those
who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even though near relatives,
after it has become plain to them that they would inhabit hell' (siirat al-Tawba
(or al-Barz'a); IX, v.113). And there was also revealed, 'You cannot give
guidance to those you love'" (swat al-Qa~a?; XXVIII, v.56).
Muslim related this account from Ishaq h. Ibrahim and 'Ahd Allah, from 'Abd
al-Razaq.
They also drew it from a hadith of al-Zuhri, from Sa'id h. al-Musayyab, from
his father in similar words. In it he states, "The Messenger of God (SAAS)
continued to suggest this to him while the other two repeated their words until
he spoke his linal words, '... in the faith of 'Ahd al-Munalib.' And he refused to
utter the words 'There is no god but God.'
"The Prophet (SAAS) said, 'I will seek forgiveness for you.' And so God sent
down, thereafter that is, the words, 'It is not up to the Prophet and those who
believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even though near relatives."'
Concerning Abn Tdib, it was revealed, "You cannot give guidance to those
you love."
Imim Ahmad, Muslim, al-Timidhi and al-Nas9i related this from a hadith
of Yazid h. Kaysa, from Abn Haim, from Abn Hurayra, who said, "When
death was near for Abii Tdih, the Messenger of God (SAAS) came to him and
said, 'Uncle, say "There is no god hut God" and I will testify for you about it on
Judgement Day.'
"He replied, 'If it were not for Quraysh insulting me and saying that it was
only fear of death that made me say it, I would do so, and please you. I would
not, however, say it only to please you.'2'
"And so God, Almighty and Glorious is He, revealed, 'You cannot give
guidance to those you love."'
'Abd Allah b. CAbbas, Ibn 'Umar, Muj&id, alSha'bi, and Qatada all stated
that the above verse was revealed about Abii Tdib when the Messenger of God
- The passage could also be eanslated, "Were it not for Quraysh insulting me by saying that
it was only fear of death that induced me to say so, or that I did so in order to please you, I would
have uttered this statement; but only to please you."