Hadith: "O uncle, say: La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah), a word with which I can defend you before Allah

عن سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ:
لَمَّا حَضَرَتْ أَبَا طَالِبٍ الْوَفَاةُ، جَاءَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَوَجَدَ عِنْدَهُ أَبَا جَهْلٍ وَعَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، فَقَالَ: «أَيْ عَمِّ، قُلْ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، كَلِمَةً أُحَاجُّ لَكَ بِهَا عِنْدَ اللهِ»، فَقَالَ أَبُو جَهْلٍ وَعَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ: أَتَرْغَبُ عَنْ مِلَّةِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْرِضُهَا عَلَيْهِ، وَيُعِيدَانِهِ بِتِلْكَ الْمَقَالَةِ، حَتَّى قَالَ أَبُو طَالِبٍ آخِرَ مَا كَلَّمَهُمْ: عَلَى مِلَّةِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ، وَأَبَى أَنْ يَقُولَ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: «وَاللهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ مَا لَمْ أُنْهَ عَنْكَ»، فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ: {مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ} [التوبة: 113]، وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ فِي أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَقَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: {إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ} [القصص: 56].
[صحيح] - [متفق عليه] - [صحيح البخاري: 4772]

Sa‘īd ibn al-Musayyab reported that his father said:
When Abu Tālib was about to die, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came to him and found Abu Jahl and 'Abdullah ibn Abi' Umayyah ibn al-Mughīrah with him. He said: "O uncle, say: La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah), a word with which I can defend you before Allah." Abu Jahl and 'Abdullah ibn Abi' Umayyah said: Would you abandon the religion of 'Abdul-Muttalib? The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) kept repeating his request, and they also kept repeating their words to him. The last thing Abu Tālib said to them was: On the religion of 'Abdul-Muttalib, refusing to say: There is no god but Allah. He said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By Allah, I shall continue seeking forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden from doing so." So Allah revealed: {It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe in seeking forgiveness for the polytheists.} [Surat at-Tawbah: 113]. Allah also revealed regarding Abu Tālib and addressing the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): {You cannot guide whoever you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.} [Surat al-Qasas: 56]
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim] - [Sahih Bukhari - 4772]

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered upon his uncle Abu Tālib when he was in his death throes and said to him: O Uncle, say: "La ilāha illallāh (there is no god but Allah)," a statement with which I can testify in your favor before Allah. Thereupon, Abu Jahl and ‘Abdullah ibn Abi ’Umayyah said: O Abu Tālib, would you abandon the religion of your father ‘Abdul-Muttalib, i.e. worshipping idols?! They both kept talking to him until the last thing he said to them was about the religion of Abdul-Muttalib, i.e., the religion of Shirk (polytheism) and idolatry. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), thus, said: I will ask forgiveness for you as long as my Lord does not forbid me from doing so. Upon this, Allah Almighty revealed: {It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists[83], even if they are close relatives, after becoming clear to them that they are the people of the Blazing Fire.} [Surat at-Tawbah: 113] And the following verse was revealed concerning Abu Tālib: {You cannot guide whoever you like, but Allah guides whom He wills, and He knows best who will be guided.} [Surat al-Qasas: 56] You cannot guide whoever you like to guide; your duty is only to convey the message, and Allah guides whom He wills.