This chapter closes the mouth against the habit of cursing. The Arabic title forbids la'n, invoking damnation, upon a named person or even an animal. To curse is to wish someone driven away from the mercy of Allah, and that is a verdict no servant has the right to pass on another.
Watch a clear portrait of the believer emerge across these hadith. The truthful soul does not deal in taunts, foul speech, or curses, and the curse that is hurled unjustly finds no resting place and circles back to the one who flung it.
Hadith 1551
Abu Zaid Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him( (he is one of those who gave their pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) under the Tree) said:
عن أبي زيد ثابت بن الضحاك الأنصاري رضي الله عنه، وهو من أهل بيعة الرضوان قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "من حلف على يمين بملة غير الإسلام كاذبًا متعمدًا، فهو كما قال، ومن قتل نفسه بشيء، عُذب به يوم القيامة، وليس على رجل نذر فيما لا يملكه، ولعن المؤمن كقتله" ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who swears by a religion other than that of Islam, is like what he has professed. He who kills himself with something, will be tormented with it on the Day of Resurrection. A person is not bound to fulfill a vow about something which he does not possess. Cursing a believer is like murdering him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Among his teachings here, he said cursing a believer is like murdering him. To wish someone driven from Allah's mercy is treated as a grave assault.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1551 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 41
Hadith 1552
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "لا ينبغي لصدِّيق أن يكون لعانًا" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "It does not befit a Siddiq (righteous Muslim) to frequently curse others." [Muslim]
In plain words
He said it does not suit a truthful, righteous person to be someone who curses often. A habit of cursing does not belong with sincere faith.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1552 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 42
Hadith 1553
Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لا يكون اللعانون شفعاء، ولا شهداء يوم القيامة" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Those who frequently resort to cursing (people) would neither be accepted as witnesses nor as intercessors on the Day of Resurrection." [Muslim].
In plain words
Those who curse a great deal will not be accepted as witnesses or as intercessors on the Day of Resurrection. The habit costs a person standing on that Day.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1553 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 43
Hadith 1554
Samurah bin Jundub (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن سَمُرَة بن جُندب رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لا تلاعنوا بلعنة الله، ولا بغضبه، ولا بالنار" . ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not curse one another, invoking Curse of Allah or Wrath of Allah or the fire of Hell." [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
He forbade cursing one another by calling down Allah's curse, His wrath, or the Fire. Such damning words are not ours to throw at people.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1554 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 44
Hadith 1555
Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "ليس المؤمن بالطعان، ولا اللعان، ولا الفاحش، ولا البذي" . ((رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A true believer is not involved in taunting, or frequently cursing (others) or in indecency or abusing." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
A true believer is not given to taunting, frequent cursing, indecency, or abuse. Clean speech is part of real faith.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1555 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 45
Hadith 1556
Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "إن العبد إذا لعن شيئًا، صعدت اللعنة إلى السماء، فتغلق أبواب السماء دونها، ثم تهبط إلى الأرض، فتغلق أبوابها دونها، ثم تأخذ يمينًا وشمالا، فإذا لم تجد مساغًا رجعت إلى الذي لُعن، فإن كان أهلا لذلك، وإلا رجعت إلى قائلها" . رواه أبو داود.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When a person curses somebody or something, the curse goes up to heaven and the gates of heaven get closed. Then it comes down to the earth and its gates get closed. Then it turns right and left, and if it does not find an entrance to go anywhere, it returns to the person or thing that was cursed; if he or it deserves to be cursed; otherwise it returns to the person who uttered it." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
He described how an unjust curse rises and is shut out of heaven, then earth, and finally returns to the one who spoke it if its target did not deserve it. A wrongful curse circles back on the curser.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1556 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 46
Hadith 1557
'Imran bin Husain (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن عمران بن الحصين رضي الله عنه الله عنهما قال: بينما رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في بعض أسفاره، وامرأة من الأنصار على ناقة، فضجرت، فلعنتها، فسمع ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: "خذوا ما عليها ودعوها، فإنها ملعونة" قال عمران: فكأني أراها الآن تمشي في الناس ما يَعرض لها أحد. ((رواه مسلم)).
We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey and there was a woman from the Ansar riding a she-camel. She abused and invoked curse upon it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard it and said, "Off load the she- camel and set it free because it has been cursed." [Muslim].
In plain words
When a woman cursed her she-camel, he ordered it unloaded and set free, refusing to keep a cursed animal in the company. He took even a hasty curse seriously.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1557 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 47
Hadith 1558
Abu Barzah Nadlah bin 'Ubaid Al-Aslami (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي برزة نضلة بن عبيد الأسلمي رضي الله عنه قال بينما جارية على ناقة عليها بعض متاع القوم، إذ بصرت بالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وتضايق بهم الجبل، فقالت: حل، اللهم العنها. فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لا تصاحبنا ناقة عليها لعنة" ((رواه مسلم)). قوله: حل بفتح الحاء المهملة، وإسكان اللام وهي كلمة لزجر الإبل واعلم أن هذا الحديث قد يستشكل معناه ولا إشكال فيه بل المراد النهي أن تصاحبهم تلك الناقة وليس فيه نهي عن بيعها وذبحها وركوبها في غير صحبة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بل كل ذلك وما سواه من التصرفات جائز لا منع منه إلا من مصاحبته صلى الله عليه وسلم بها لأن هذه التصرفات كلها كانت جائزة فمنع بعض منها فبقي الباقي على ما كان والله أعلم
A young woman was riding a she-camel on which there was the luggage of people. Suddenly she saw the Prophet (ﷺ). The pass of the mountain became narrow for her people (because of fear). The young woman said to the she-camel: "Go ahead." When it did not move, she said, "O Allah! Curse it." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The she-camel that has been cursed should not accompany us." [Muslim].
In plain words
When a young woman cursed her she-camel, he said the cursed animal should not travel with them. Careless curses, even on an animal, are not to be taken lightly.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1558 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 48