Sahih al-Bukhari 4772

Abu al-Yaman narrated to us: Shuʿayb informed us, from al-Zuhri, who said: Saʿid ibn al-Musayyab informed me, from his father, who said, “When death came to Abu Talib, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) came to him and found Abu Jahl and ʿAbdullah ibn Abi Umayya ibn al-Mughira with him. He said, ‘Uncle, say: There is no god but Allah—a word by which I may plead for you before Allah.’ Abu Jahl and ʿAbdullah ibn Abi Umayya said, ‘Are you turning away from the religion of ʿAbd al-Muttalib?’ The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) kept urging him to say it, while they kept repeating that statement to him, until Abu Talib’s final words to them were, ‘I am upon the religion of ʿAbd al-Muttalib.’ He refused to say, ‘There is no god but Allah.’ The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘By Allah, I will surely ask forgiveness for you as long as I am not forbidden to do so.’ Then Allah revealed, ‘It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the polytheists,’ and Allah revealed concerning Abu Talib, saying to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace), ‘You do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills.’”

Ibn ʿAbbas said: “{Those endowed with strength}: a band of men could not lift it. {It would weigh heavily upon them}: it would burden them. {Empty}: empty except for the remembrance of Moses. {Those who exult}: those who rejoice arrogantly. {Follow her trace}: follow his tracks; it can also mean to relate speech, as in ‘We relate to you.’ {From afar}: from a distance; janaba is one [form], and it may also mean avoidance. Yabtishu and yabṭushu are two pronunciations. {They were conferring}: they were consulting one another. Al-ʿudwan, al-ʿadaʾ, and al-taʿaddi are one and the same. {He perceived}: he saw. A jadhwa is a thick piece of wood with no flame, whereas a meteor has a flame. Snakes are of various kinds: the jann, vipers, and black snakes. {As a support}: as a helper. Ibn ʿAbbas said, ‘{To confirm me}’; someone else said, ‘{We will strengthen you}’: We will help you. Whenever you strengthen something, you have given it a support. {Disgraced}: destroyed. {We explained it fully}: we made it clear and completed it. {Is brought}: is brought in. {Became insolent}: became arrogant. {In its metropolis a messenger}: the metropolis of the towns is Mecca and its surroundings. {What the breasts conceal}: what they hide. I aknantu a thing means I concealed it; kanantuhu can also mean I concealed it and made it manifest. {Woe to you! Is it that Allah…}: like “Do you not see that Allah…?” {He extends provision to whom He wills and restricts it}: He gives him ample provision or constricts it.”