SHOULD WE REFRAIN FROM SENDING CURSES UPON THOSE TWO?

From the time that the rights of Imam Ali (as) were usurped, there have been two camps amongst the Shia. The ones who openly curse the two and the ones that refrain from cursing.

It is without a shred of doubt an important topic that every Shia should be aware of. 

People of both camps have their valid arguments and both bring about traditions and reasons to support their decisions. It is important here to ensure we don’t fall into the trap of following a person and their reasoning rather follow the path of Ahlulbayt (as) and what pleases them. 

Here we like to bring about a tradition about a Lady by the name of Umme Khalid, who was one of the students of Abu Baseer the companion of Imam Sadiq (as). In this tradition she enquires about those two and whether she should curse them or refrain from it. Being the time of Mansur (la) Imam Sadiq (as) had to follow taqiyya to give her an appropriate response. 

Abaan narrates from Abu Baseer who said: 

‘I was seated in the presence of Imam Sadiq (as) when Umme Khalid, whose hands had been cut off by Yusuf Bin Umar came up, seeking permission to see Imam (as). Imam Sadiq (as) asked me: ‘Would you like to listen to her speech?’ I said, ‘Yes’. He (as) said: ‘Grant her permission’, and Imam (as) made me sit alongside him (as) upon the seat. Then she came in. She spoke eloquently. So she asked about those two of them. He (as) said to her: ‘Befriend the two of them’ She said, ‘Shall I say to my Lord when I meet Him  that you (as) ordered me to befriend them?’ He (as) said: ‘Yes’.

Here Umme Khalid understood Imam Sadiq (as) was speaking under taqiyya so she tried to get an answer from Imam (as) through another means.

She said, ‘But the one who is seated with you upon the seat (Abu Baseer) has ordered me to keep away (Tabarra) from those two whilst Kaseer Al-Nawa has ordered me to befriend those two. So, which one is better and more beloved to you?’ He (as) said: ‘By Allah! This one here is more beloved to me than Kaseer Al-Nawa and his companions. This one here argues by saying: 

وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ 44

 وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 45

وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ ٱلْإِنجِيلِ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ 47

“[5:44] and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the unbelievers”; “[5:45] and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the unjust”; “[5:47] And the followers of the Injeel should have judged by what Allah revealed in it; and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the transgressors”.  

We thus see that Imam Sadiq (as) very cleverly informed her that she should perform Tabarra against those two and the ones who don’t (Kaseer Al-Nawa) are not beloved to him (as). 

Kaseer Al-Nawa was one of the Batris. They had the love of Imam Ali (as) and those two in their hearts.

After reading this hadith we should firstly perform a sajdah shukr in order to thank Allah (swt) and his Ahlulbait (as) that we live in a time that we can read such traditions easily and openly without any fear of repercussions. Although in some countries restrictions are still there but for most of us there is a liberty. 

We should prepare our hearts for Imam Mahdi (atfs) reappearance by having the love of his family as well as the hatred of his enemies in order that we present ourselves in front of our Imam (atfs) with perfect and undiluted beliefs.

Ref : Al Kafi, Vol.8, Pg.111, H.no.14519