Thursday, April 26, 2012

How would God curse someone?

Well, an entire chapter of the Qur'an is Allah cursing Muhammad's uncle (and his wife):


Surah Al-Masadd
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish. (1) His wealth and gains will not exempt him. (2) He will be plunged in flaming Fire, (3) And his wife, the wood-carrier, (4) Will have upon her neck a halter of palm-fibre. (5)

Since you were wondering, there you have it! Merciful and compassionate indeed :-)

2 comments:

Floyd Terramore said...

I don't know the context of that passage in the Qu'ran. But isn't it fair to say that we see cursings from God in the Bible as well? We hold him to be merciful, but Isaiah 1 lists off all kinds of curses from God on his people.

Is there a difference? If so, what is it?

Abu Daoud said...

I think there are some huge differences between this sura (and it is the whole sura, so what sort of context are you looking for?) and Isaiah 1.

Is 1 is a series of woes, recognizing that the sins of different groups have caught up with them, and then being called back to repentance. There is no call to repentance here.

Also, Is 1 is about God dispensing justice over many nations in his patience. Here you have Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Prophet, opposing him. And this is what he gets--Allah cursing him w/o any call to repentance or any option for forgiveness.