What Islam Says about Curse
A Mal’oun (cursed) is someone who is away from divine mercy.
La’an is an Arabic word meaning to hold in contempt, to drive away, and to banish out of anger and rage. In ethics, it means asking for someone to be driven away from God’s mercy.
La’an from God is when He drives someone away from His mercy, which is manifested as punishment in the hereafter.
Nefrin has a meaning that is close to La’an. It means to ask God to give evil and bad things to someone. So it can be considered inclusive of the meaning of La’an.
The main thing that causes La’an and Nefrin is anger. When anger rages in a person, it drives him away from the dominion of wisdom and logic, and then bad and evil actions can come out of him such as La’an and Nefrin.
Sometimes the root of La’an and Nefrin is envy, with the person looking for another person to fall from their position or lose their fortune.
In Islam La’an is Haram (forbidden) unless the religion itself has sanctioned it. Some examples of it are as follows:
La’an against infidels: “But those who disbelieve, and die disbelieving shall incur the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people.” (Verse 161 of Surah Al-Baqarah)
La’an against polytheists: “…so that He would punish the hypocrites and the pagans who have evil suspicions about God. It is they who are surrounded by evil and have become subject to the wrath and condemnation of God. He has prepared for them hell, a terrible place to live.” (Verse 6 of Surah Al-Fath)
La’an against apostates: “Why would God guide a people who disbelieves after having had faith, who have found the Messenger to be truthful, and who have received authoritative evidence? God does not guide the unjust. What they will gain will be the condemnation of God, the angels, and all people,” (Verses 86-87 of Surah Al Imran)
La’an against hypocrites: “Allah has promised the hypocrites, both men and women, and the unbelievers the Fire of Gehenna. They shall live in it for ever. It is sufficient for them. Allah has cursed them and for them is a lasting punishment.” (Verse 68 of Surah At-Tawbah)
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La’an against the unjust and oppressors: “Certainly God will condemn the unjust” (Verse 18 of Surah Hud)
La’an against the corrupt: “As for those who break the covenant of Allah after accepting it, who part what He has commanded to be united and worked corruption in the land, a curse shall be laid on them, and they shall have an evil abode.” (Verse 25 of Surah Ar-Raad)
La’an against Satan: “'My curse shall rest on you until the Day of Recompense.” (Verse 78 of Surah Saad)
La’an against those who try to hurt God and the Holy prophet (PBUH): “Those who (try to) hurt Allah and His Messenger shall be cursed by Allah in this present life and in the Everlasting Life, and He has prepared for them a humbling punishment.” (Verse 57 of Surah Al-Ahzab)
La’an against liars: “Those who dispute with you concerning him after the knowledge has come to you, say: ‘Come, let us gather our sons and your sons, our womenfolk and your womenfolk, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us humbly pray, so lay the curse of Allah upon the ones who lie.’” (Verse 61 of Surah Al Imran)
La’an against those who slander pious and chaste women: “Surely, those who defame chaste, unsuspecting, believing women, shall be cursed in this world and in the Everlasting Life, and for them there is a mighty punishment.” (Verse 23 of Surah An-Nur)
La’an against those who kill believers: “The punishment for one who purposely slays a believer will be to live in hell fire forever. God is angry with him and has condemned him. He has prepared for him a great torment.” (Verse 93 of Surah An-Nisa)
