A “curse” in the Islamic context means to be deprived of the mercy of Allah. It is not permissible for a Muslim to curse a specific person, animal, or object by name. Cursing means the deprivation and exclusion of goodness or of the Mercy of Allah The Almighty, and this can never be the habit of the believers. When a person does not restrain his anger, he insults, curses swears, and hits. Anger may be a door to all kinds of evil. The act of cursing is such that one who does it can himself become a recipient of it. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاءٌ مِّن نِّسَاءٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ ۖ بِئْسَ الِاسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
“O you who have faith, let not people ridicule other people; perhaps they are better than them. Neither let women ridicule other women; perhaps they are better than them. Do not insult each other, nor mock each other with nicknames. Wretched is the accusation of wickedness after faith, and whoever does not repent has done wrong.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:11)
Cursing carried out by one who is angry is not permitted and although it is not forbidden; it should definitely be seen as something which should not be carried out under any circumstances; for the love of Allah. Cursing in terms of joking or because one is used to the notion of saying vulgar words is again not recommended. You, as an entity have been blessed with a voice from Allah; and this voice is to be used in restriction. Allah says:
وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ
“Do not curse those they invoke besides Allah, lest they insult Allah in hostility without knowledge.” (Surah Al-An’am 6:108)
You may use your voice for glorifying Allah, for reciting the Qur’an and for saying Du’a. You may use your voice when necessary to help others and to maintain a conversation. You may use your voice to explain concepts of both spiritual and temporal progression to others and to stand up against oppression. But by no means, should this blessed voice be used for foul language and one should make a constant effort to not swear at others, regardless of whether it is a joke or a habit. Allah says:
وَلَعْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ كَقَتْلِهِ وَمَنْ رَمَى مُؤْمِنًا بِكُفْرٍ فَهُوَ كَقَتْلِهِ
“Cursing a believer is like killing him and charging a believer with unbelief is like killing him.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5754)
The second meaning is an expressive wish against a person or a group of people in hope that they undergo some sort of misfortune or adversity. This can also be related to the evil eye, black magic or just plain old hatred which imposes thoughts on one’s mind to do harm directly or indirectly upon someone else. Allah says:
أَلَا لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ
“Is not the curse of Allah upon the oppressors?” (Surah Hud 11:18)
Cursing is strictly prohibited in Islam. Whether the person has done good or bad to you and regardless of whether they are of those who believe or those who disbelieve. Cursing in some sense is a sort of punishment, and we are strictly prohibited from carrying out an act of the sort. Allah says:
لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ
“Not for you, [O Muhammad, but for Allah ], is the decision whether He should [cut them down] or forgive them or punish them, for indeed, they are wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:128)
Here are some major tips to cursing is not allowed in Islam:
- Cursing is a deprivation of the mercy of Allah
- Curse rebounds and comes back onto him
- Cursing prohibition, guilt, and deprivation
- Cursing a believer like the act of killing
- Cursing is not permissible in all cases
- Cursing a believer is like killing him
- Curses do not deserve to be cursed
- Cursing is prohibited. linguistically
- Cursing means to deprive
- Cursing means to expel
- Do not curse each other
- Cursing is prohibited in Islam
- Cursed is the subjugated wind
- Purify your tongue from cursing
- Cursing a Believer is a Great Crime
- Do Not Curse an Animal or a Mount
- Muslims should never dare to commit
- Beware of the Rebounding of the Curse
- Muslims should neither curse each other
- The Almighty and killing is a deprivation of life
Cursing is of two types: The first one is swearing, saying and meaning something bad to someone through vulgar language which is usually done in modes of losing temper, joking around or because someone has just become used to using such foul words in their speech. So, it is important for those to maintain their anger to the bare minimum and not be induced to swear for the sake of releasing their anger and offending someone else. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“Who spend (in the cause of Allah) during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:134)
Islam is a religion of peace, love, and mercy. Allah Almighty and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (SAW) teach us to be kind, loving and merciful with Muslim brothers and also with Non-Muslims. So we can say the religion that asks its members to greet one another with love, peace, mercy, and blessings, does not allow cursing one another not even jokingly.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “And speak to people good words” (Quran 2:83)
- “We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).” (Surah Al-Insan, 3)
- “And We shall try you until We test those among you who strive they’re utmost and persevere in patience, and We shall try your reported (mettle).” (Surah Muhammad, 31)
- “That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them – as to which of them are best in conduct.” (Surah Al-Kahf, 7)
- “And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.” (Quran 17: 53)
- “But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs.” (Al-Shooraa: 43)
- “Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: So We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight.” (Surah Al-Insan, 2)
- “And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a glaring sin.” (Al-Ahzaab: 58)
- “We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.” (Surah Al-‘Ankabut, 3)
- “Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, “We believe”, and that they will not be tested?”(Surah Al-‘Ankabut, 2)
- “And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive.” (Qur’an 42.37)
Hence, it is usually most appropriate for Muslims to use kind, gentle, and measured words in ordinary situations, especially in today’s age when words are beamed around the world at light speed. Cursing in somehow is a sort of punishment, and we are strictly prohibited from carrying out an act of this sort. Allah says:
لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ
“Not for you, [O Muhammad, but for Allah], is the decision whether He should [cut them down] or forgive them or punish them, for indeed, they are wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:128)
It is therefore not appropriate on any level to curse and wish bad upon someone. If you can be a mercy to their situation, then, by the grace of Allah; please be. Otherwise, stay at bay and pray for them; and be just, even towards those who have ridiculed you or given you a hard time. Those who curse others will not be granted the honour of interceding on the Day of Judgment. Allah says:
لَيْسَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِالطَّعَّانِ وَلَا اللَّعَّانِ وَلَا الْفَاحِشِ وَلَا الْبَذِيءِ
“The believer does not taunt others, he does not curse others, he does not use profanity, and he does not abuse others.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1977)
Using foul language and cursing is a sin, even in-joke and this is a characteristic of the people of Hellfire. Indeed, it is Allah who is the most knowing of what we do and it is Allah who is the most knowing of what we don’t do. We ask Allah The Almighty to purify our tongues, hearts, and bodies from everything that stirs His wrath. May Almighty Allah protect us from the Hellfire on the Day of Judgment! Ameen
