What is the ruling on one who insists on the permissibility of invoking God’s mercy and forgiveness for a deceased disbeliever, citing that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, that His mercy encompasses all things, and that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was sent as a mercy to all creation?

Seeking forgiveness for a deceased disbeliever is absolutely forbidden by explicit texts from the Qur'an and Sunnah (definition), and by the consensus of the Muslim Ummah. This is not a matter of ijtihad (definition) (independent reasoning). The Holy Qur'an has clarified that it is not permissible for the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the believers to seek forgiveness for idolaters, even if they are close relatives. Allah the Almighty revealed concerning Abu Talib: "It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire." (Surah (definition) At-Tawbah (definition), 9:113).

It is also authentically established that the Prophet (peace be upon him) sought permission from his Lord to ask forgiveness for his mother, but he was not granted permission. Some scholars have gone further, stating that seeking forgiveness for a disbeliever constitutes disbelief, as it is a request to falsify what Allah has informed about the punishment of disbelievers.

As for the verse: "And My mercy encompasses all things" (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:156), it refers to mercy in this worldly life. In the Hereafter, it is exclusively for the believers. And regarding the verse: "And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds" (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:107), scholars have interpreted it to mean that all mankind benefited from his message. Believers attained dignity in this world and the Hereafter, while for his enemies, their hastened death was better for them. Those who had treaties lived under the protection of his covenant, hypocrites had their blood protected, and general punishment was lifted from the people of the earth because of his message.