Is it permissible to seek forgiveness for one's father and pray for his mercy, given that his father is of the Rafidah belief?

Question : Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: My father is of the Rafidah belief, and I am from the people of the Sunnah. The question is: Is it permissible for me to seek forgiveness for him and ask Allah for his mercy if he dies, knowing that he prays the Friday prayer with the congregation, whereas the Rafidah belief holds that the Friday prayer is not valid except behind a just or infallible imam? What I understand from this question is that his father is still alive, and he is asking: If he dies in this state, should I pray for his mercy and seek forgiveness for him, and the like?

Answer : We say that as long as your father is alive, strive to free him from this false, misguided creed. Strive for this, for this is the greatest of dutifulness toward him: to call him to the truth and to make clear to him the misguidance in which he is. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is capable of everything and has the power to guide him to the truth, especially if you call upon Allah for him while you are calling him to the truth. If you call upon Allah to guide him, to grant him success in guidance, and to make it easy for him, then Allah the Exalted says: . It is not hidden from any of us that some of the leaders of Islam were, before that, among the leaders of disbelief. This is 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who was the first of the enemies of the message to be among its opponents, and this is Khalid ibn al-Walid, and 'Uthman ibn Abi Jahl, and others of the Companions to whom Allah granted guidance after their disbelief. He wanted this camel—meaning the one to whom Allah granted guidance and led him to the truth, who followed the Sunnah and was among its people—to try, as much as he could, with his father, perhaps that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, will guide him. Do not despair, for despair is a cause of stagnation and of not proceeding in the truth. Do not despair, but strive to present the truth to him if he is able to receive it, or bring books containing clear, evident truth, secrets, and proper conduct. Yes.