Numerous narrations in Shia hadith literature describe the spiritual merit of cursing and invoking the wrath upon the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). In Islamic history, Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) opposed the usurpers of the caliphate who stood against Imam Ali (peace be upon him), ultimately cursing them.
The Curse of Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him) upon the Enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt
Allameh Sayed Ali Taqi Faiz al-Islam, in his translation and commentary on the phrase “Allahumma alan adaahum min al-awwalin wal-akhirin” from Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him), writes:
“O Allah, curse their enemies among the past and the future until the Day of Resurrection, and those who are pleased with their deeds and actions, and their allies and followers. Deprive them of Your mercy, and subject them to punishment and retribution.”
The mention of cursing the enemies of God’s chosen successors in Imam al-Sajjad’s (peace be upon him) Eid al-Adha supplication establishes the legitimacy and permissibility of this practice. It even indicates its recommended nature and the reward allotted to the one who performs it. Were cursing an improper or illicit act, the Imam would not have explicitly included it in such a significant and sacred occasion.
This practice is considered a means of seeking closeness to Allah, and this is the approach of the Twelve-Imam Shia. On occasion, cursing one who is truly deserving of it may be regarded as an act of worship, just as sending blessings (salawat) upon the righteous carries merit. Just as salawat brings reward to the one who recites it, cursing—if properly directed and performed with the intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure—also carries reward.
The Holy Quran refers to divine curses in several verses and, in some instances, prescribes cursing, affirming this practice:
- “Those who conceal clear signs and guidance We have sent after We have explained it in the Scripture for the people—Allah curses them, and those who curse them [also curse them].”
- “Indeed, those who disbelieve and die in disbelief—the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people is upon them.”
Those who conceal the truth are distanced from divine mercy and are cursed by Allah, the angels, and humanity. They are deprived of divine favor and brought to punishment for their deeds, while others also invoke curses upon them. These are precisely the individuals perpetually subject to the wrath and curse of Allah and all His creation.
Thus, the phrases “and those who curse them” and “the angels and all people” constitute a directive for angels and humans to curse those whom Allah has cursed.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) also cursed certain wrongdoers, saying, “May Allah curse the one who curses his parents” and “May Allah curse the usurer.”
Sometimes, cursing becomes obligatory and forms part of faith when the purpose is to express detestation and dissociation, as Allah has made loving His friends mandatory and likewise enjoins enmity toward His enemies.
The Quran states, “You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day who befriend those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they are their fathers, sons, brothers, or relatives.”
Cursing the Enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt in Pilgrimage Supplications
Imam Ali al-Naqi (peace be upon him), in a passage from the Ziyarat al-Ghadir of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), states:
“O Allah, curse the killers of Your Prophets and their successors with all Your curses and subject them to the fire of Your hell. Curse those who usurped the right of Your Wali (Imam Ali), denied their covenant, and rejected them after recognizing and affirming their guardianship on the day You completed the religion for them. O Allah, curse the killers of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), those who wronged him, and their followers and supporters. Curse the oppressors of Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him), those who aided his enemies, those satisfied with his murder, and those who abandoned his support, with a severe and enduring curse. O Allah, curse the first oppressor who wronged the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and deprived them of their rights, and extend this curse to every oppressor and usurper of the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and those who follow their path until the Day of Resurrection. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, his pure family, and their apparent successors, and make us steadfast with them and among the successful, secure, and protected by their guardianship, those who shall neither fear nor grieve.”
The Cursed Ones According to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) told Yunus ibn Yaqub:
“My grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), said, ‘Cursed is he who wrongs my daughter Fatimah after me, usurps her rights, and causes her martyrdom.’ Then he said, ‘O Fatimah! You hold a praised status with Allah by interceding for your devotees and followers, and your intercession is accepted. O Fatimah! Even if all the prophets sent by Allah and all His exalted angels intercede on behalf of those who oppose you and usurp your rights, Allah will never save them from the fire.'”
The Visit of Abu Bakr and Umar and the Curse of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her)
After setting fire to the household of the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet and assaulting and wounding her, Abu Bakr and Umar came to visit Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) when they heard that her illness had intensified and she was nearing martyrdom.
However, Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), aware that their visit was meant to obscure the shame of their aggression against the house of revelation, explicitly expressed her repudiation and said to Abu Bakr:
“By Allah, I will curse and invoke wrath upon you in every prayer I offer.”
The Disputation of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) with Abu Bakr
During the usurpation of Fadak, after Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) presented the Fadak deed and it was torn by Umar ibn al-Khattab, she addressed Abu Bakr: “Was Fadak not under my control during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), and did I not utilize its produce? ”
He replied, “Yes.”
She asked, “Then why do you demand witnesses for something that is already in my possession? ”
Abu Bakr responded, “Because it is spoils of the Muslims; without proof, I will not acknowledge it.”
She, addressing the people who heard, said, “Do you intend to oppose the command of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and judge against us while you do not do so for other Muslims? Hear, O people, what act you are committing. O Abu Bakr and Umar, if I claim what belongs to the Muslims and is under their control, should you demand proof from me or from the Muslims? ”
Umar angrily said, “This is the property of the Muslims, and Fadak is theirs; she merely consumes its produce. If you provide evidence that the Prophet granted Fadak to Fatimah among the Muslims, while it is indeed spoils of the Muslims, we shall deliberate on it.”
She said, “That suffices. O people, I ask you, did you hear the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) say that my daughter is the leader of the women of Paradise? ”
They replied, “Yes, by Allah, we heard this from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family).”
She asked, “Does the leader of the women of Paradise make false claims and seize what is not hers? What will you say if four testify falsely against me or two accuse me of theft? Will you believe them? ”
Abu Bakr remained silent, but Umar said, “Yes, we will enforce the punishment.”
She said, “You have lied and revealed your corruption. Except for those outside the religion of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), no one is permitted to testify against or impose a penalty upon the leader of the women of Paradise, for they are purified by Allah and protected from all evil.”
Criteria for Friendship and Enmity with the Ahl al-Bayt
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“I am the scale of knowledge, and Ali is its two pans; al-Hasan and al-Hussain are its cords, Fatimah is its link and clasp, and the Imams after them measure, through this scale, the love of the lovers and the hatred of the enemies, upon whom rests the curse of Allah and the curse of those cursed.”
Cursing the Enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt in the Quran
Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran:
“Indeed, those who harm Allah and His Messenger—Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and has prepared for them a humiliating punishment.”
Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Qummi, in his exegesis, states:
“This verse was revealed regarding those who usurped the rights of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) and harmed her. As the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said, ‘Whoever harms Fatimah in my lifetime, it is as if they have harmed her after my martyrdom. Whoever harms her after my death, it is as if they have harmed her during my lifetime. Whoever harms her harms me, and whoever harms me harms Allah.'”
This hadith confirms the meaning of the verse, emphasizing that those who harm the faithful, namely Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), by accusing them of deeds they did not commit, bear the burden of falsehood and wrongdoing, and this teaching applies to all humanity.
