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He was also asked—may Allah have mercy on him:
If someone left his parents while they were unbelievers and does not know whether they have embraced Islam, is it permissible for him to supplicate for them?
He answered:
Praise be to Allah. Anyone belonging to a people who were originally unbelievers may not ask forgiveness for his parents unless they have embraced Islam. As Allah Most High says:
“It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire.”
وَسُئِلَ - رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ -:
عَمَّنْ تَرَكَ وَالِدَيْهِ كُفَّارًا:
وَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ هَلْ أَسْلَمُوا؟ هَلْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ لَهُمْ؟ .
فَأَجَابَ:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، مَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَصْلُهَا كُفَّارٌ لَمْ يَجُزْ أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرَ لِأَبَوَيْهِ إلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَا قَدْ أَسْلَمَا.
كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى:
{مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ}
.