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The religion of the Prophet's, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, parents and their fate

Question

I have an urgent question regarding the Prophet's (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) parents. Were his parents idol worshippers? Were his parents Muslims? Will they enter Paradise? Will they be accountable on the Day of Judgment? Did the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) ask forgiveness to Allah for his parents after their death?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is reported in a sound Hadeeth (narration) that the parents of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) are in Hell. Muslim reported from Anas ibn Maalik  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that a man came to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) and said, "O Messenger of Allaah, where is my father? The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: 'In Hell.' When the man turned back, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) called him and said: 'Both my father and yours are in Hell.'" [Muslim]

Abu Hurayrah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said, "The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) visited the grave of his mother and wept and all those who were around him wept as well. Then he said: 'I sought the permission of my Lord to visit my mother's grave and He permitted me to do so. And I sought His permission to ask forgiveness for her and He did not permit me. (Now), visit the graves, they remind of death.'"

Thus, it is clear from the last Hadeeth that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) was ordered not to seek forgiveness for his parents. It is also clear from the Quran that prohibiting asking for the forgiveness of the parents is because of their Shirk (disbelief). Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allaah's Forgiveness for the Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah) even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).} [Quran 9:113]. So, if it is certain that they were polytheists then that means they worshipped other than Allaah The Almighty.

Allaah Knows best.

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