5. Following is the context of the verse:
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًۭا ۚ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوكَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ (٢٥) وَهُمْ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَيَنْـَٔوْنَ عَنْهُ ۖ وَإِن يُهْلِكُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ (٢٦)
“And of them is he who hearkens to you, and We have cast veils
over their hearts lest they understand it and a heaviness into
their ears; and even if they see every sign they will not believe in
it; so much so that when they come to you they only dispute with
you; those who disbelieve say: This is naught but the stories of
the ancients. And they prohibit (others) from it and go far away
from it, and they only bring destruction upon their own souls
while they do not perceive.”1
As you can see, the context of the verse is clear that it implies infidels, who
had come to Prophet and disputed with him, they alleged that Holy Quran
comprised stories of ancient. The same persons denied Quran and Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) and who kept away from it. What connection does Abu Talib have with
such people when he never did such a thing all his life? And whenever he came
to Prophet, it was in his defense and protection and he said:
“I swear by God, no hand will get access to you, till I am buried.”
If he is called out aloud prophethood would reply and say:
“Do you not know that we found Muhammad a prophet like Musa, who was mentioned in the ancient scriptures?”
And if he asked about his book, Quran, he would call out:
“Or that they bring faith in the astonishing book, which was revealed on prophets like Musa or Yunus.”
Exegesists have understood the point we mentioned and they don’t give any
credit to the view that the verse was revealed about Abu Talib. Some of them
have mentioned the phrase ‘it was said’, which proves its weakness. Some have
regarded the opposite of this to be more apparent. And some have regarded it to
be ‘most likely’. Pay attention to some of the statements: Raazi in his Tafseer,2
has mentioned two viewpoints regarding these verses: Its revelation is regarding
polytheists, who forbid people from following the Prophet and from accepting his
prophethood. And: Revelation of the verses for only Abu Talib. Then he says:
The first viewpoint is preferable due to two evidences…
Zamakhshari in Kashaf,3 and Shaukani in his Tafseer,4 and others have
mentioned the first viewpoint and mentioned the second viewpoint by the term ‘it
was said’.
Second and third verse
1. The verse:
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى قُرْبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَحِيمِ (١١٣)
“It is not (fit) for the Prophet and those who believe that they
should ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even though they
should be near relatives, after it has become clear to them that
they are inmates of the flaming fire.”5
2. Verse:
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ (٥٦)
“Surely you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides
whom He pleases, and He knows best the followers of the right
way.”6
Bukhari7 in his Sahih, in Kitabut Tafseer, in exegesis of Surah Qasas, has
narrated from Abul Yaman, from Shuaib, from Zuhri from Saeed bin Musayyab
from his father that when the death of Abu Talib approached, Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.) came to him and found Abu Jahl, Abdullah bin Abu Umayyah bin
Mughira with him.
He said: “Uncle, recite: There is no god, except Allah, and this is a formula,
through which I would argue with Almighty Allah about your faith.”
Abu Jahl, Abdullah bin Abu Umayyah said: “Will you turn back from the
religion of Abdul Muttalib?”
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) continued to present that formula to him and
repeat that dual formula till Abu Talib mentioned his last statement as follows:8
“I remain on the religion of Abdul Muttalib,” and he refrained from reciting:
“There is no god, except Allah.”