مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن يَسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ
Occasion of Revelation (Sahih — Agreed Upon):
Two authentic narrations:
First (Bukhari & Muslim): The Prophet ﷺ sought permission to visit his mother Amina's grave. He was permitted to visit but not to seek forgiveness for her. So the verse was revealed.
Second (Muslim): When Abu Talib was dying, the Prophet urged him to say the shahada. He refused. The Prophet said: "I will seek forgiveness for you as long as I am not forbidden." Then the verse was revealed.
Significance:
- Seeking forgiveness for deceased polytheists is absolutely forbidden
- Strongest proof of the Prophet's love for family — yet human love does not override divine rulings
- Verse 114 explains Ibrahim disavowed his father after his polytheism became clear
Question: What did the Prophet ﷺ wish to do for his mother Amina that he was not permitted to do?
Answer: He wished to seek forgiveness for her. He was permitted to visit her grave but not to seek forgiveness — because she died outside of Islam.