Can one pray for forgiveness of Mushriks
Mu' meneen
Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa
Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be
upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this
question:
U said we must keep
praying for our parents for the forgiveness ,also when we know they died on polytheism?As u also said Prophet (saws) was not permitted
by Allah Subhanah to make dua
or supplication for his mother for she died in the state of polytheism.
What one shud say on visiting the graves of the dear
ones (whether one has or not died in the state of polytheism)?
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Answer:
Can one pray for forgiveness of Mushriks
In the
name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness.
Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray,
none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no
person, no grave, no prophet, no imam,
no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Q-1: U said we must keep praying
for our parents for the forgiveness ,also when we know
they died on polytheism?
Indeed, Allah Subhanah has commanded the believers to be kind to their
parents and constantly pray for their forgiveness.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Bani Israel verses 23-24:Your Lord has enjoined the following: You should not
worship anyone but Him Alone! Treat your
parents with great kindness; if either
or both of them attain old age, do not even say ‘uff’
to them; nor rebuke them; but speak to them kind words. Treat them with humility and tenderness and
pray, “O our Lord, be
merciful to them, just as they brought me up with kindness and affection in my
childhood.”
But if
one is convinced that his parents have died on ‘shirk’ or polytheism, then it does not behove a believer in Allah and the Last Day, to pray for
their forgiveness.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 113:It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe that they
should pray for forgiveness for pagans,
even though they be of kin, after
it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.
Q-2: As u also said Prophet (saws)
was not permitted by Allah Subhanah to make dua or supplication for his mother for she died in the
state of polytheism.
Abu Hurairah reported:
"The Prophet (saws) visited his mother' s grave
and cried, and everyone there cried with him.
Then the Prophet (saws) said: 'I sought my Lord's permission to seek
forgiveness for her, but He did not permit me. I then sought permission to
visit her grave and He permitted me to do this. You should visit graves,
because they will remind you of the reality of death.''
Narrated by Muslim, Ahmad, and the Sunan.
Q-3: What one shud
say on visiting the graves of the dear ones (whether one has or not died in the
state of polytheism)?
Buraidah reported: "The Prophet (saws) taught us
that when we visited graves we should say, 'Peace be upon you, O believing men
and women, O dwellers of this place. Certainly, Allah willing, we will join
you. You have preceded us and we are to follow you. We supplicate to Allah to
grant us and you security'.''
Narrated by Muslim and Ahmad.
Ibn 'Abbas reported:
"Once the Prophet (saws) passed by graves in Madinah. He tumed his face
toward them saying: 'Peace be upon you, O dwellers of these graves. May Allah forgive us and you.
You have preceded us, and we are following your trail'."
Narrated by Tirmidhi.
The above
supplications of forgiveness, mercy and security are only for the deceased
believers. If one is convinced that the
deceased has died on ‘shirk’ or polytheism one should not supplicate for
Allah’s Mercy and Forgiveness for them, for Allah Subhanah
has Declared that this sin of ‘shirk’ is absolutely unforgivable.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 72:Whoever commits ‘shirk’ (invoking anything with
Allah), Allah shall forbid for him
Allah says in the Quran: Chapter 4 Surah An-Nisa Verse 48:Shirk (associating other deities with Allah) is the only
sin that Allah does not forgive, and He forgives, whomsoever He pleases, sins
other than this. For whosoever
associates any other partner with Allah, does indeed forge a big lie and
commits the most heinous sin
Whatever
written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance,
and whatever of error is of me. Allah
Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your Brother in Islam,
Wister