Sunan an-Nasa'i 2035

Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-A‘la informed us, saying: Muhammad—namely, Ibn Thawr—narrated to us, from Ma‘mar, from al-Zuhri, from Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyab, from his father, who said: When Abu Talib was near death, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered to see him, with Abu Jahl and ‘Abd Allah ibn Abi Umayyah present. He said, ‘Uncle, say: There is no god but Allah—a statement by which I can plead for you before Allah, the Almighty.’ Abu Jahl and ‘Abd Allah ibn Abi Umayyah said to him, ‘Abu Talib, will you turn away from the religion of ‘Abd al-Muttalib?’ They continued speaking to him until his final words to them were that he remained upon the religion of ‘Abd al-Muttalib. The Prophet said to him, ‘I will surely seek forgiveness for you as long as I have not been forbidden to do so.’ Then the verse was revealed: ‘It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists,’ and the verse was revealed: ‘Indeed, you do not guide whom you love.’