What is the Wisdom Behind the Curse of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) of Others?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I often get amazed and can’t take in my brain that a prophet can curse a scorpion, which is the creature of Allah Most High. I know it’s harmful. But how can a Prophet curse? I want to understand and strengthen my faith.

Also, I heard our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) curse some people who had come to His house, then Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) asked; he replied, my curses have been redirected as a blessing. Is it true? Is it also for scorpions? Same as for lizards, I know animals don’t have consciousness, so if they blow into the fire, it is their nature, which is set by Allah, so the lizard will not be guilty. Please explain these things; I have read the article about lizards and was unsatisfied.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Killing a scorpion, a snake, or any of the “five serious destructive pests” like feral dogs, mice, and kites is necessary because they threaten people, places, and habitats.

For example, the lizard is not killed because it blows on the fire kindled for Prophet Ibraham (peace be upon him). When Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) informed us that the lizard blew upon the fire of Abraham (peace be upon him) to help fan the flames, he was merely depicting the distastefulness of the animal and the extent of its harmfulness. He was simply characterizing them as harmful.

Allah Most High is All-Wise

Allah Most High said, “We have not created the heavens and earth and everything in between without purpose—as the disbelievers think. So woe to the disbelievers because of the Fire!” [Quran, 38:27]

Allah tells us of His perfect wisdom in creating the heavens and the earth and that He has not created them in vain, i.e., in play with no beneficial purpose.

Allah Most High is All-Wise, and so is His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) given to Him. As humans, we have a limited capacity to understand how Allah’s dominion works and how He wants it to be operated. However, there are reasons for creating every creature, and each has benefits and reasons for its existence.

Every creature works to develop, grow, and sustain their world, including the animal kingdoms and other kingdoms. They are not created just to be killed; they come into this world to fulfill Allah’s purpose and wisdom, create balance amongst the habitat, ecosystem, and physical geography, and allow it to thrive and flourish, etc. You can watch this link to understand this phenomenon better.

Cursing

The reality of cursing (la’n) is remoteness and being far away from the mercy of Allah and any goodness. Mercy is a quality that induces excellent conduct. It is a concern for good. The above creatures, though, have their purpose in the world, and they fulfill it; however, if they are to be seen, they are to be killed.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace)  was told, “O Messenger of Allah, pray against the idolaters!” The Prophet said: Verily, I was not sent to invoke curses, but rather, I was only sent as a mercy. [Muslim]

Similarly, cursing specific animals or objects by name is not allowed. This is even more applicable to people.

Abu Barzah al-Aslami reported: A young woman was riding a camel upon which was people’s luggage. When she saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the mountain’s pass became narrow, the woman said to the camel, “Go ahead!” When it did not move, she said, “O Allah, curse it!” The Prophet said: We will not be accompanied by a camel that has been cursed. [Muslim]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

Related

• Advice to Pet Owners | Human Salmonella Muenchen Infections Linked to Contact with Pet Crested Geckos | May 2015 | Salmonella | CDC
• Is the Ruling Of Cursing For Men Only? – SeekersGuidance
• What is the Definition of Hikma in the Quran? – SeekersGuidance
• Cursing Disbelievers and the Companions of the Prophet – SeekersGuidance
•  What Happened When A Pack Of Wolves Were Released In Yellowstone National Park – YouTube
• Does Islam Say That Lizards Are Evil? – SeekersGuidance

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekers.flywheelstaging.com)?

I pray this helps with your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.