He said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "By Allah, I will seek forgiveness for you as long as I am not forbidden to do so." Then Allah revealed: "It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of the Hellfire." (Surah At-Tawbah: 113). From this hadith, it becomes clear to us that the prohibition of seeking forgiveness is only known through revelation, and it does not mean that the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, promised his uncle forgiveness, nor that he disavowed his disbelief, or that he equated disbelief with faith. Rather, he disavowed his disbelief, hated it, and rejected it. This disavowal indicates that he did not call his disbelief faith, nor did he equate disbelief with faith. As for the prohibition of his seeking forgiveness for his disbelieving uncle, this is a legal ruling that is only known through revelation. Likewise, ignorance of the ruling of declaring someone an infidel for committing disbelief does not mean that he did not disavow his disbelief, or that he called disbelief faith, or that he equated faith with disbelief. As long as he disavows what the disbeliever is upon of disbelief, he has not called disbelief faith, nor has he equated disbelief with faith. Allah Almighty has clarified in His Book that He would not lead a people astray after He had guided them until He made clear to them what they should guard against, through obedience and disobedience, as a mercy from Him, Glorified and Exalted is He. He Almighty said: "It is not for Allah to lead a people astray after He has guided them, until He makes clear to them what they should avoid. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of all things." (Surah At-Tawbah: 115). Ibn Kathir said (in his interpretation of this verse): "Allah Almighty says, informing about Himself and His just ruling: He does not lead a people astray after the message has reached them, until the argument has been established against them, as Allah Almighty said: 'And if they turn away, then say, 'I have warned you all with a [destructive] blast like that which struck 'Ad and Thamud.'" (Fussilat: 13).