End of Abu Taalib

When Abu Taalib suffered from the deadly disease, the Greatest and Noblest Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم came to him and said, ‘O my uncle! Recite the Kalimah. It is the Kalimah by which I will insist in the Divine court that you be forgiven.’ At that time, Abu Jahl and ‘Abdullah Bin Abi Umayyah were also present near Abu Taalib. Both of them said to Abu Taalib, ‘O Abu Taalib! Are you going to abandon the religion of ‘Abdul Muttalib?’ These two continued to talk to Abu Taalib and he did not recite the Kalimah. His dying words were, ‘I believe in the religion of ‘Abdul Muttalib.’ As soon as he uttered these words, his soul left his body. Deeply shocked, the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘I will continue to pray for your forgiveness unless Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ prohibits me from it.’ Thereafter, the following Ayah was revealed:

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِیِّ وَ الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اَنْ یَّسْتَغْفِرُوْا لِلْمُشْرِكِیْنَ وَ لَوْ كَانُوْۤا اُولِیْ قُرْبٰى مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَهُمْ اَنَّهُمْ اَصْحٰبُ الْجَحِیْمِ(۱۱۳)

It does not befit the Prophet and those who believe, to seek forgiveness for the polytheists; even if they are (their) relatives, since it has become clear to them that they are the inmates of Hell.¹

[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 11, Surah At-Taubah, Ayah 113)