Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَلِيلِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَجُلًا، يَسْتَغْفِرُ لِأَبَوَيْهِ وَهُمَا مُشْرِكَانِ فَقُلْتُ أَيَسْتَغْفِرُ الرَّجُلُ لِأَبَوَيْهِ وَهُمَا مُشْرِكَانِ فَقَالَ أَوَلَمْ يَسْتَغْفِرْ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَنَزَلَتْ {مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ} قَالَ لَمَّا مَاتَ فَلَا أَدْرِي قَالَهُ سُفْيَانُ أَوْ قَالَهُ إِسْرَائِيلُ أَوْ هُوَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ لَمَّا مَاتَ.
English Translation
It was narrated that Hadrat 'Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him) said: I heard a man praying for forgiveness for his parents, who were mushrikeen. I said: Would a man pray for forgiveness for his parents when they are mushrikeen? He said: Didn`t Ibrahim (upon him be peace) (عليه السلام) pray for forgiveness for his father? I mentioned that to the Noble Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and the words `It is not proper for the Noble Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and those who believe to ask Allah`s forgiveness for the Mushrikoon, 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). And Ibrahim`s (Abraham (upon him be peace)) (عليه السلام) invoking (of Allah) for his father`s forgiveness was only because of a promise he when he died.`