Sacrificing to Others and Wronging Others

📖Sahih Muslim 1978
Abi ibn Abi Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Allah has cursed one who sacrifices to other than Allah. Allah has cursed one who harbors a heretic. Allah has cursed one who curses his own parents. Allah has cursed one who manipulates the boundaries of a land.

Explanation

This hadith highlights four major actions that bring upon the curse of Allah. These curses are divine – meaning Allah Himself declares them, not that we should curse such people. The Prophet ﷺ is informing us of Allah’s judgment, not asking us to curse others.

Let’s break down each:

1.  Sacrificing to other than Allah

• This refers to offering sacrifices (animals, etc.) to idols, saints, graves, jinn, or any deity besides Allah.
• Why such a strong curse? Because these other “gods” are not creators, nor sustainers. It’s like a man providing food and care for another woman while ignoring his own mother who raised him or his wife – total betrayal and injustice. Similarly, Allah gives life, sustains, and controls everything, yet a person dedicates acts of worship to someone else.

2. Harboring a heretic (innovator or rebel against faith)

• This means supporting someone spreading deviation from Islam or corrupt beliefs. Such people destroy the faith of others, so protecting them means helping in the destruction of Islam.

3. Cursing one’s own parents

• A major sin because parents are a person’s direct source of existence and kindness. Cursing them is ingratitude of the highest level.

4. Manipulating land boundaries

• Changing property lines to take others’ rights unjustly is theft and oppression. Allah curses such oppression because it causes corruption in society.

Why does Allah curse these acts?

• A curse from Allah means being distanced from His mercy. These sins destroy the foundation of justice and gratitude.
• Sacrificing to others denies Allah’s sole right to be worshipped.
• Supporting heresy spreads corruption in religion.
• Disrespecting parents destroys family ties.
• Stealing land breaks trust and creates injustice in society.

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Qur’an Verses for Context

📖Quran 6:162
Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.’”

📖Quran 29:8
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents…

📖Quran 2:188
And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers…”

📖Quran  11:113
Do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire…