throughout his lifetime.”1
Who, then, could be further astray than one whose heart harbors rancor against the best of the believers and the leaders among Allah Most High’s devoted servants after the prophets—the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him?
The same applies to anyone who maligns the Muslim community’s scholars and its finest members—those endowed with knowledge, understanding of the religion, and sincere concern for Muslims. Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Among the well-known sayings is: ‘The flesh of the scholars is poisoned.’”2
The same applies to cursing deceased Muslims who have gone on to what they sent ahead. Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Cursing the dead is graver than cursing the living. It is authentically established that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: ‘Do not revile the dead, for they have gone on to what they sent ahead.’3 Indeed, he even said: ‘Do not revile our dead, thereby causing pain to our living.’4 This was because some people used to revile Abū Jahl and similar unbelievers whose relatives had embraced Islam; reviling such men caused pain to their relatives.”5
As for cursing the disobedient, the wicked, and the flagrantly immoral among Muslims, the Sunnah does not prescribe cursing any particular sinner. Rather, the Sunnah curses categories of people in general, as in the Prophet’s words—peace and blessings be upon him: “May Allah curse the thief who steals an egg and, as a result, suffers the amputation of