"And Abraham’s seeking of forgiveness for his father was..." [up to] the verse.
Qatada said:
It was mentioned to us that a man said to the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Some of our fathers used to be good neighbors, maintain ties of kinship, free captives, and fulfill pledges; shall you not seek forgiveness for them?” He replied: “Yes, by Allah, I will seek forgiveness for my father just as Abraham sought forgiveness for his father.”
Then Allah (Glory be to Him) revealed: “And Abraham’s seeking of forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him.”
“But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah” — meaning, he died in his state of polytheism — “he disassociated himself from him. Indeed, Abraham was compassionate and forbearing.” Ibn Abbas said: “Al-Awwah (the compassionate) is the one who is certain in faith.” Ibn Mas’ud said: “He is the one who supplicates often.”
Muhammad [Ibn Abi Zamanin] said: Abu Ubayd mentioned that this interpretation is closer in meaning, because it is derived from at-ta’awwuh (sighing), which is a type of sound. From this is the saying of the poet:
‘And say “Oh” at her remembrance when I recall her, despite the distance of land and sky between us.’
Muhammad said: It is said: “Awi” (oh) with a quiescent waw and a kasra on the ha, and “Awwah” with a shadda. It is said: “Aha al-rajulu yu’awwihu” (the man sighed) when he says “Awi” due to a matter that is difficult for him. It is also said: “Ta’awwaha al-rajulu” (the man sighed), and “al-muta’awwih” is the one who laments.”
﴿وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لأَبِيهِ﴾ الْآيَة.
قَالَ قَتَادَة:
ذُكِرَ لَنَا: أَنَّ رَجُلا قَالَ لِنَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ: أَن مِنْ آبَائِنَا مَنْ كَانَ يُحْسِنُ الْجِوَارَ، وَيَصِلُ الأَرْحَامَ، وَيَفُكُّ الْعَانِي، وَيَفِي بِالذِّمَمِ؛ أَفَلا تَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ؟ قَالَ: بَلَى، فَوَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَسْتَغْفِرُ لِوَالِدِي؟ كَمَا اسْتَغْفَرَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لأَبِيهِ.
فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ - سُبْحَانَهُ -: ﴿وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لأَبِيهِ إِلا عَنْ مَوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ﴾ ".
﴿فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنه عَدو لله﴾ أَيْ: مَاتَ عَلَى شِرْكِهِ ﴿تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ﴾ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: الأَوَّاهُ: الْمُوقِنُ. وَقَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ: هُوَ الدَّعَّاءُ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: وَذَكَرَ أَبُو عُبَيْدٍ أَنَّ هَذَا التَّفْسِيرَ أَقْرَبُ فِي الْمَعْنَى؛ لأَنَّهُ مِنَ التَّأَوُّهِ، وَهُوَ مِنَ الصَّوْتِ، مِنْهُ قَوْلُ الشَّاعِرِ:
(فَأَوْهِ بِذِكْرَاهَا إِذَا مَا ذَكَرْتُهَا … وَمِنْ بُعْدِ أرضٍ دُونَهَا وَسَمَاءِ﴾
قَالَ محمدٌ: يُقَالُ: (أَوْهِ) بِتَسْكِينِ الْوَاو وَكسر الْهَاء، و (أوه) مُشَدَّدَةٌ، يُقَالُ: آهَ الرَّجُلُ يُئَوِّهُ إِذَا قَالَ: أَوْهِ مِنْ أَمْرٍ يَشُقُّ عَلَيْهِ، وَيُقَالُ: تَأَوَّهَ الرَّجُلُ، والمتأوه: المتلهف.
