For example...

For example: إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ “But not in what Ibrahim said to his father: I would certainly ask forgiveness for you, (Mumtahena 60:4)” سَأَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّي ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِي حَفِيًّا “I will pray to my Lord to forgive you, surely He is ever kind to me, (Maryam 19:47)” وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَنْ مَوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ “And Ibrahim asking forgiveness for his sire was only owing to a promise which he had made to him.

(Tauba 9:114)” This verses show that the Prophets used to promise and give glad tidings to the sinners just as Ibrahim too had given such glad tidings to Azar. But when he saw him persisting in idol-worshiping, he stopped from seeking forgiveness for him because, one of the conditions for acceptance of prayers is that the person for whom the forgiveness is sought should be a monotheist and not a polytheist. (3).

Allah commands a group of sinful believers to approach the Holy Prophet (s) for seeking forgiveness from Allah and to request the Prophet (s) to seek forgiveness on their behalf and if the Prophet (s) seeks forgiveness for them, then Allah would forgive their sins.

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَحِيمًا “And had they, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Apostle had (also) asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Oft returning, Merciful.

(Nisa 4:64)” Which verse can be clearer than this one where Allah orders the sinful ummah to approach the Holy Prophet (s) for acquiring the forgiveness of Allah and requesting him to pray for them?

Going to the Holy Prophet (s) and asking for forgiveness has two obvious benefits: (A) Requesting for forgiveness from the Holy Prophet (s) enlivens the essence of obedience to the Prophet in sinful persons and due to their feeling of the Holy Prophet's position, they will sincerely follow and obey the Holy Prophet (s).

Basically, such goings and comings creates a special state of humility in a person towards the Holy Prophet (s) and prepares him to sincerely act upon the verse of: أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول “Obey Allah and obey the Apostle.

✦ ✦ ✦