Abstract
Prophets are examples in kinship relations as well as in every other subject. Many incidents that occurred between them and their relatives are represented in the Quran. The experiences between Prophet Joseph and his brothers; the cooperation between Prophet Moses and his brother Prophet Harun in the process of apostolizing; Prophet Lokman’s advice to his son; the issues between Prophet Muhammad and his wives are among these expressions. There were also those who were on the polytheists' side in Noah’s household. One of them was his wife. The Quran describes Noah’s wife as a traitor. This is not because she had a moral weakness. She was a polytheist and she tried to discredit Noah by means of accusing him of insanity. Therefore, she betrayed her husband in a religious aspect and paid the price of her betrayal by deserving hell. Another polytheist from Noah’s household was his son. Noah’s son insisted on not boarding the ship after he took the believers aboard. When Noah exclaimed “Oh my son, get on the ship with us, do not be with the heretics", he replied; “I will take shelter in a mountain that will protect me from water”. His father’s last warning to him was “Today there is nothing to protect you from the judgment of God, except for what He has spared”, finally, a wave broke out between the son and the father, and the son was one of those who drowned. Prophet Abraham's father was among those who tried to prevent him from fighting against polytheism. Prophet Lut’s wife, who betrayed him, also perished with the deviant tribe. Prophet Muhammad, the last link of the prophet chain, made a special effort for his relatives to honor them with faith. However, some of his closest ones died being deprived of this honor. The Quran ordered the Prophet Muhammad to warn his closest relatives. As soon as he received that order, he went up the Safa hill and addressed the Quraysh tribes and warned them. His uncle Abu Lahab, who was among those who listened to him that day, said some unpleasant words to him. The Surah Tebbet was descended upon this incident. The treatment which Abu Lahab and his wife Ummu Jamil, who was known for leaving thorns on the roads the Muslims passed to cause them trouble, would face in the afterlife has been mentioned in the surah. One of Abu Lahab's sons, Utba, about whom the verse was revealed, was also one of the polytheists. The Quran used the expression “Cursed that person” for Utba, who was a believer in the past, but later abandoned the religion by saying “I believed in all of the Quran except the Surah An-Najm”. Abu Talib, another uncle of Prophet Muhammad, had a special place in his life. Abu Talib always supported his nephew, despite the provocations of his relatives who wanted to prevent the spread of Islam. The Prophet made a special effort for him to find the true path. Because of his vigorous efforts in this matter, the verse “You do not guide whom you like, but God guides whom he wills” was revealed. The verse “It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask for forgiveness for the polytheists, even though they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the companions of hell” was revealed upon the commitment which the Prophet gave to Abu Talib about he would continue to invoke for forgiveness for him unless God prohibited him from doing so. This study aims to determine the verses that mention the relatives of Prophets who died as unbelievers and to reveal the ideas of the scholars regarding these verses. The study is important as it claims to guide the Muslims in their relations with their relatives who deny the revelations. In the study, first, a Qur’an-oriented reading will be made and then the relevant verses will be determined, classified, and examined. Then, the literature which is directly or indirectly related to the subject will be reviewed. It is planned to put forward tafsirs among the main sources of the study.