Abraham’s prayer for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had made to him when he said to him I will ask my Lord forgiveness for you Q. 1947 in the hope that he would submit to God; but when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of God upon his death as an disbeliever he declared himself innocent of him and refrained from asking forgiveness for him; truly Abraham was soft of heart making frequent entreaty and supplication to God forbearing enduring harm patiently.
- 9:114114
وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَنْ مَوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ
And [Ibrahim's (Abraham)] invoking (of Allah) for his father's forgiveness was only because of a promise he [Ibrahim (Abraham)] had made to him (his father). But when it became clear to him [Ibrahim (Abraham)] that he (his father) is an enemy to Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Verily Ibrahim (Abraham) was Al-Awwah (has fifteen different meanings but the correct one seems to be that he used to invoke Allah with humility, glorify Him and remember Him much), and was forbearing. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi).
- common.revelation-Medinan
- common.hizb : 82