Transliteration:( Sawaaa'un 'alaihim as taghfarta lahum am lam tastaghfir lahum lany yaghfiral laahu lahum; innal laaha laa yahdil qawmal faasiqeen )
17. This was said at that time when it was not Forbidden to offer prayer of forgiveness for the hypocrites. Thereafter, this was forbidden. Thus, it is totally forbidden now to offer prayers of forgiveness for the infidels and hypocrites.
18. Here, offering dua or not offering dua for them is the same, as they will not benefit from it. But, it is not the same for you, for you will obtain reward for offering the dua.
Some scholars have said that it is totally forbidden to offer a prayer of forgiveness for the polytheists, but not for the hypocrites, because they are still duty-bound to some Islamic laws. It should be remembered that the non-acceptance of this prayer of the Holy Prophet is a mark of his lofty honour.
What it means is that any reprobate who regards himself as independent and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم out of mercy pray for him Allah Almighty will not forgive such a person.
He will only forgive those who are the devotees It should be of His Prophet remembered to offer a prayer is different to benefiting someone. The Noble Companions would receive benediction from the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. The hypocrites would sometimes, for show, ask the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم to pray for them.
19. Here, 'a transgressor' denotes a hypocrite. This means that that disrespectful wretch who does not have the honour and respect for the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم will never obtain guidance.
The tafsir of Surah Munafiqun verse 6 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Munafiqun ayat 5 which provides the complete commentary from verse 5 through 8.
13. This thing was reiterated in Surah At-Taubah, which was revealed three years after Surah Al-Munafiqoon, even in stronger words. In that Surah, Allah, while addressing the Prophet (peace be upon him) said this about the hypocrites: O Prophet (it will be all the same) whether you beg forgiveness for them or not, for Allah will not forgive them even if you beg forgiveness for them seventy times. This is because they have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah does not show guidance to the wrongdoers. (Surah At-Taubah, Ayat 84). A little further on in that Surah it was again said: And never perform the funeral prayer for anyone of them who dies nor stand at his grave, for they have denied Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and died while they were transgressors. (Surah At-Taubah, Ayat 84).
14. Two things have been stated in this verse. First, that the prayer of forgiveness can be beneficial only for those who are guided aright. Let alone a common man, even if Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) himself prays for the forgiveness of the person, who has turned away from guidance and adopted the way of sin and transgression instead of obedience, he cannot be forgiven. Second, that it is not Allah’s way to bless with guidance those who do not seek His guidance. If a person himself turns away from Allah’s guidance, rather shakes his head with arrogance and rejects the invitation when he is called towards guidance, Allah has no need that He should go after him with His guidance and implore him to come to the right path.
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