Avoid Inviting Allah’s Wrath and Punishment

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1976
‘Samurah bin Jundab narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “Do not curse yourselves with Allah’s curse, nor with His anger, nor with the Fire.”

This hadith, narrated by Samurah bin Jundab, is a warning from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) against cursing oneself or engaging in actions that could bring about Allah’s curse (la‘nah), anger (ghadab), or the punishment of Hellfire.

Quranic Context of Allah’s Curse, Anger, and Hellfire

1. Allah’s Curse (La’nah) – Being Deprived of His Mercy

   • A curse means being removed from Allah’s mercy and blessings. Those who engage in sinful behavior and persist in wrongdoing are at risk of being cursed by Allah.
   • 📖Quran 2:159 – “Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture – those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse.”
   • 📖Quran 33:64 – “Indeed, Allah has cursed the disbelievers and prepared for them a Blaze.”
   • The hadith warns people not to invoke Allah’s curse upon themselves by engaging in disobedience, as such actions could result in losing His mercy.
   • 📖Quran 9:55 – “So let not their wealth or their children impress you. Allah only intends to punish them through them in this world, and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.”

2. Allah’s Anger (Ghadab) – Can Manifest as Punishments in This World and the Hereafter

   • Allah’s anger (Ghadab) is directed at those who knowingly reject His guidance and persist in sin. This anger can lead to punishments in this world (natural disasters, destruction of past nations) and in the Hereafter (Hellfire).
   • 📖Quran 20:81 – “But do not transgress therein, lest My anger should descend upon you. And he upon whom My anger descends has certainly perished.”
   • 📖Quran 48:6 – “And [He may] punish the hypocrite men and hypocrite women, and the polytheist men and polytheist women – those who assume about Allah an assumption of evil nature. Upon them is a turn of evil fortune, and Allah is angry with them and has cursed them and prepared for them Hell, and evil it is as a destination.”

Allah’s Anger and Natural Disasters

Allah’s anger is not only seen in the afterlife but can also manifest in this world through natural disasters and calamities as a warning or punishment for people who persist in wrongdoing.

• 📖Quran 29:40 – “So each We seized for his sin. And among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast, and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. And Allah would not have wronged them, but it was they who were wronging themselves.”

  • This verse refers to the destruction of past nations (e.g., the people of Lot, Thamud, and Pharaoh) due to their sins. Their punishment came in the form of storms, earthquakes, drowning, and other disasters.

• 📖Quran 16:112 – “And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they used to do.”

  • This verse highlights how famine, insecurity, and fear can be consequences of turning away from Allah’s guidance.

• 📖Quran 7:96 – “And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning.”

  • This shows that obedience to Allah brings blessings, while rejection of His guidance may lead to disasters.

Hellfire – The Ultimate Consequence of Allah’s Anger

• The ultimate consequence of earning Allah’s curse and anger is Hellfire, which is described in the Quran as a terrible and painful punishment.
• 📖Quran 3:12 – “Say to those who disbelieve: You shall be overcome and gathered to Hell, and wretched is the resting place.”
• 📖Quran 3:162 – “So is one who pursues the pleasure of Allah like one who brings upon himself the wrath of Allah and whose refuge is Hell? And wretched is the destination.”
• 📖Quran 4:56 – “Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment.”

Lessons from This Hadith and Quranic Context

1. Be Mindful of Words and Actions

   • The hadith warns against cursing oneself with Allah’s curse, anger, or Hellfire. People should avoid using such words in anger or frustration, as they might unknowingly invoke divine punishment upon themselves.
   • 📖Quran 17:53 – “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.”
   • This verse highlights that a believer’s speech should be kind and thoughtful, avoiding negative or harmful expressions.

2. Avoiding Sins That Lead to Allah’s Wrath

   • Engaging in disobedience, oppression, arrogance, and hypocrisy can lead to Allah’s anger.
   • 📖Quran 16:106 – “But indeed, those who revert to disbelief after guidance has become clear to them – Satan has enticed them and prolonged hope for them. That is because they preferred the worldly life over the Hereafter. And indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.”
   • This teaches that prioritizing worldly desires over obedience to Allah can lead to divine punishment.

3. Natural Disasters as a Warning and Trial

   • Not every natural disaster is a punishment; sometimes, it is a test for believers or a means of purification.
   • 📖Quran 2:155 – “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.”
   • 📖Quran 57:22 – “No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being – indeed that, for Allah, is easy.”
   • This shows that some calamities are tests of faith, reminding believers to repent and turn back to Allah.

Conclusion

This hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims to be cautious with their words and actions, avoiding anything that could lead to Allah’s curse, anger, or Hellfire. The Quran provides numerous warnings about disobedience but also offers hope through repentance and mercy. Believers should strive to follow Allah’s guidance, speak good words, and seek forgiveness to ensure they remain within His mercy rather than His punishment. Additionally, natural disasters can be both a form of divine punishment and a test for believers, urging them to repent and turn back to righteousness.