The Hanbali Madzhab on Cursing Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Jawzy (r.a.) narrated, from Qadhi Abi Ya’la Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn al-Farra’ (r.a.), in his al-Mu’tamad fi Uswul al-Fiqh, with a chain of narration extending to Shaykh Swalih ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.), that the latter said, “I related to my father that a certain group of people associate us with Yazid and claim that we love him. 

He responded, ‘O my son, how can that be when it is impossible for anyone who truly believes in God to love Yazid.’ 

So, I asked him why he does not curse him, to which he replied, ‘O my son, when did you see me cursing anything or anyone?  However, why should one not curse the one who was Cursed by Allah (s.w.t.) in His Book.’ 

I asked my father where Yazid is Cursed in God’s Book. 

He responded, ‘In the verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ محَمَّد

فَهَلۡ عَسَيۡتُمۡ إِن تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ أَن تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوٓاْ أَرۡحَامَكُمۡ (٢٢) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمۡ وَأَعۡمَىٰٓ أَبۡصَـٰرَهُمۡ (٢٣) 

Then, is it to be expected of you, if you were Put in authority, that you will do mischief in the land, and break your ties of kith and kin?  Such are the men whom Allah has Cursed, for He has Made them deaf and blinded their sight. (Surah Muhammad:22-23) 

And is there any form of corruption and evil greater than murder?’” 

And in another narration, when Shaykh Swalih (r.a.) asked him this question, he responded, “O my son, what shall I say about an individual whom God has cursed in His Book,” and he mentioned the same verse. 

Imam ibn al-Jawzy (r.a.) wrote, in his aforementioned book about cursing Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah, just as Qadhi Abi Ya’la (r.a.) did in a book.  They mentioned the various individuals who deserved to be cursed, among whom, was included Yazid.  They wrote that the one who has hesitation about cursing Yazid is one of three types of people: one who is unaware of the permissibility of doing so; an outright hypocrite; or an ignorant individual basing himself upon the hadits of the Prophet (s.a.w.) that proclaims that ‘a believer is not one who curses.’” 

Regarding the last category, Qadhi Abi Ya’la (r.a.) stated, “This hadits is in reference to cursing the one who is not deserving of being cursed.”  And he mentioned the Qur’anic verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ محَمَّد

فَهَلۡ عَسَيۡتُمۡ إِن تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ أَن تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوٓاْ أَرۡحَامَكُمۡ (٢٢) 

Then, is it to be expected of you, if you were Put in authority, that you will do mischief in the land, and break your ties of kith and kin? (Surah Muhammad:22)