Talhah read, "And Ibrahim did not seek forgiveness for his father," and from him: "And Ibrahim does not seek forgiveness," in the narration of the past state except for a promise that he made to him, meaning the promise Ibrahim made to his father, which is his saying, "I will surely ask forgiveness for you." This is supported by the reading of Al-Hasan and Hamad in the narration: "He promised his father." If you say, how did it escape Ibrahim that seeking forgiveness for the disbeliever is not permissible until he made the promise? I say: It is possible that he thought as long as there is hope for his faith, it was permissible to seek forgiveness for him, noting that the prohibition of seeking forgiveness for the disbeliever is known only by revelation, because reason allows that Allah may forgive the disbeliever. Do you not see his saying, peace be upon him, to his uncle: "I will surely ask forgiveness for you as long as I do not receive a clear command against you?" And from Al-Hasan, it was said to the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him: "So-and-so seeks forgiveness for his polytheist parents," he said: "And we seek forgiveness for them," then the verse was revealed [[I did not find it.]] And from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him: I saw a man seeking forgiveness for his parents while they were polytheists, so I said to him, and he said: "Did not Ibrahim seek forgiveness?" [[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa'i, Al-Hakim, Ahmad, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Ya'la, and Al-Bazzar from the route of Abu Al-Khalil from Ali who said, 'I heard a man seeking forgiveness for his parents - the hadith.']] If you say: What is the meaning of his saying, "So when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him?" I say: Its meaning is: So when it became clear to him through revelation that he would not believe and that he would die as a disbeliever and his hope for him was cut off, he ceased seeking forgiveness for him. It is like his saying, "After it became clear to them that they were companions of the Hellfire." "L'awwah" is a frequent form, from "awha" like "lulu," and it is one who frequently sighs. Its meaning is that due to his excessive compassion, tenderness, and forbearance, he would show kindness to his disbelieving father and seek forgiveness for him, despite his harshness towards him [[The phrase 'despite his harshness towards him' means his difficulty. In the dictionaries: a harsh man - with a steady sound - means difficult in nature. (A)]] And his saying, "I will surely stone you."