The noblest of all created beings are Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and then Abraham, upon whom be peace (1). Yet the Prophet (ﷺ) refrained (2) from seeking forgiveness for his uncle Abū Ṭālib after having said, “I shall indeed seek forgiveness for you so long as I am not forbidden concerning you” (3).

He had also performed the funeral prayer for certain hypocrites and supplicated for them, until he was told: “And never pray over any one of them who dies, nor stand at his grave” (al-Tawbah 9:84) (4). Prior to that he had been informed: “Even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will never forgive them” (al-Tawbah 9:80) (5). He remarked, “Had I known that exceeding seventy times would secure forgiveness for them, I would have exceeded it” (6). Thereupon Allah revealed: “It is all the same for them whether you seek forgiveness for them or do not seek forgiveness for them; Allah will never forgive them” (al-Munāfiqūn 63:6) (7).

As for Abraham (8), the Exalted said: “When Abraham’s fear had left him and the glad tidings reached him, he began to plead with Us concerning the people of Lot. Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, ever-turning. ‘O Abraham, turn away from this! The command of your Lord has come, and upon them is an irrevocable punishment’” (Hūd 11:74-76) (9).

And when Abraham, peace be upon him, sought forgiveness for his father (10) after promising him, he said: “Our Lord, forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day when the Reckoning is established” (Ibrāhīm 14:41) (11).