A Discussion of the Phrase May Allah Curse Bani Umayya in Ashura Pilgrimage

One of the things that made Wahhabis to find faults with Shiites and even call them Takfiris, was cursing the enemies of Ahlul-Bayt (AS); while cursing and its derivatives are seen in the Holy Quran and the narrations related from the Prophet (pbuh) and Infallible Imams (AS). The most important Quranic verse that refers to a cursed tree, is verse 60 of Asra Surah which based on the great traditions of Shia and Sunni, the meaning of “cursed tree” refers to Bani Umayyads and their oppressive followers. In prophet Muhammad’s sirah (pbuh) too there are abundant instances of cursing the enemies of Islam and hypocrites. If this cursing is by God, it means punishment in the hereafter and being deprived of mercy and grace in this world and if it is by a human being, it means prayer and cursing requests the detriment or harm to another person. This article in the beginning, has explained the literal meaning of the term “curse” and following that, has pointed out cursing philosophy and has enumerated the philosophy of it. It then attempts to explain the term “Allah curse the Umayyads” during Ashura pilgrimage and based on general and particular traditions, has justified group cursing of Umayyads.