It is said that he, blessings and peace be upon him, said to his uncle Abu Talib: 'You are the greatest of people upon me in rights, and the best of them to me in favor. So say a word by which my intercession will be incumbent upon you.' But he refused. He then said: 'I will continue to seek forgiveness for you as long as I am not prohibited from it.' [Agreed upon from the narration of Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib from his father in a narration, and al-Hakim overlooked it and corrected it.] Then it was revealed.

It is also said that when he opened Mecca, he asked which of his parents had the most recent connection with him. It was said: 'Your mother Amina.' So he visited her grave at Abwa, then he stood weeping and said: 'I sought permission from my Lord to visit my mother's grave, and He granted me permission. I sought permission to seek forgiveness for her, but He did not grant me permission.' Then it was revealed. This is more authentic because the death of Abu Talib was before the migration, and this was the last revelation in Medina. It is said: 'Seek forgiveness for your father.' It is also said: The Muslims said: 'What prevents us from seeking forgiveness for our fathers and relatives, when Ibrahim sought forgiveness for his father? And this Muhammad seeks forgiveness for his uncle.' It is not for the Prophet what is permissible for him to seek forgiveness in the judgment of Allah and His wisdom after it has become clear to them that they are the companions of the Hellfire because they died upon shirk.