Question:
Assalamualaikum,dear sheikhs,
my question is regarding unbelievers.it is said in holy quran that we should not ask forgiveness for idolaters but when we ask from god swt to forgive ummati muhammad saw .arent unbeleivers also part of the ummat.?how do we reconcile these two points and also i have heard that some shaykhs can intercede for unbeleivers,how do i understand this as well?.jakAllah khair.Assalamualaikum
Answer:
`Alaykum as-Salam,
Allah Most High commanded us to imitate the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace), and the latter always has asked, is asking, and will be asking forgiveness for his Umma, so there is no discussion about that.
As for the Qur’anic command not to ask forgiveness, its terms are clearly delineated in Surat al-Tawba:
{It is not for the Prophet, and those who believe, to pray for the forgiveness of idolaters even though they may be near of kin (to them) after it has become clear to them (min ba`di ma tabayyana lahum) that they are people of hell-fire}(9:113)
which concerns specific individuals who are hell-bound by tabayyun, i.e. “after it has been made clear to them by Allah Most High and the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) beyond the shadow of a doubt,” and this can only be known by Divine stipulation, i.e. in the time of revelation. After that time, no one can say about any specific person that they are going to paradise or hell.
As for hearsay about some shaykhs please specify the exact words and context so that it can be properly addressed.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
