Is it permissible to curse (send la'nah upon) a Muslim?

La'nah means to be distanced or expelled. If la'nah is from Allah, it means being deprived of goodness and cast away; if it is from a human, it means an insult or wishing evil [1]. Ibn Hajar said: "La'nah is an evil supplication that distances one from the mercy of Allah" [2].

The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that cursing is a bad trait and not befitting of a true believer, and he advised to avoid it. In a narration from Abu Darda, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"When a person curses, it rises up to the heavens, but the gates of heaven are closed to it. Then it descends to the earth, but its gates are also closed. It then wanders the earth until it finds the one it was directed at. If that person deserves the curse, it falls upon him; if not, it returns to the one who uttered it." [3]

Regarding the ruling on cursing, it is considered as follows:

1. If the curse is not directed at a specific individual but rather at oppressors or wrongdoers in general, it is permitted.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

أَلَا لَعْنَةُ اللهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ

"Indeed, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers." [4]

Ibn Hajar Haytami said: "It is permissible to curse by mentioning a characteristic, not a specific person." [5]

1. It is allowed to curse those who are specifically mentioned in the Shariah, such as Abu Lahab or Iblis. Ibn Muflih said: "It is permissible to curse those who are cursed in the Qur'an and hadith." [6]

1. Cursing a specific Muslim is haram (forbidden). The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

"Cursing a believer is like killing him." [7]

Imam Nawawi said: "Because a criminal deprives a person of worldly life, but one who curses deprives him of the blessings of the Hereafter and the mercy of Allah. Some scholars explained that cursing a believer is as sinful as killing him." [8]

Al-Bajayrami said: "Cursing a specific Muslim is haram, and there is consensus among all Muslims on this." [9]

1. Even if a person is a disbeliever or a sinner, it is not allowed to curse a specific individual. This is because cursing distances one from the mercy of Allah, and it is unknown how a person's life will end. Imam Nawawi said: "It is not permissible to curse someone whose final state is unknown. Therefore, scholars have said: 'Whether Muslim or non-Muslim, it is not allowed to curse a specific person.' Only those whose disbelief at death is confirmed in the Shariah, such as Abu Jahl or Iblis, are exceptions." [10]

Therefore, whether a person is a Muslim or from another faith, it is not permissible to curse a specific individual.

Shariah and Fatwa Department

[1] Ibn Faris, "Mu'jam Maqayis al-Lughah", 5/252.

[2] Fath al-Bari, 1/406.

[3] Narrated by Abu Dawud.

[4] Surah Hud, 18.

[5] Az-Zawajir 'an Iqtiraf al-Kabair, 2/96.

[6] Al-Adab ash-Shar'iyyah, 1/277.

[7] Bukhari, Muslim.

[8] Sharh Muslim, 16/148-149.

[9] Hashiyat alal al-Iqna', 3/19.

[10] Sharh Muslim, 2/67.