# Is it right to curse the companions or beat oneself in mourning for Husayn?

*Against cursing the companions and self-flagellation in Husayn's name*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/iabl5vis3rg/s/18/
- Date: 2020-10-16 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Karbala & it's precursors | Mufti Abu Layth (1:01:53–1:04:03)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaBL5ViS3Rg&t=3713s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/iabl5vis3rg/

**Topics:** Karbala; Sunni-Shia dialogue

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Mufti Abu Layth condemns using Husayn's mourning to curse the companions, a disservice to Husayn, and calls self-flagellation ignorance that many Shia authorities also reject.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says he condemns using the mourning of Husayn as an excuse to curse the companions, which he feels is a disservice to Husayn.

**Evidence, his words at 1:01:53:** “I condemn if people are using the mourning of Hussein as an excuse to curse and to push an agenda of like let's say Shia Islam to say well, let's curse all the companions” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaBL5ViS3Rg&t=3713s)

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth says that if it was destiny, it was what it was, and repeats that he does not agree with commemorating Husayn's death by mourning. He says he strongly condemns using the mourning of Husayn as an excuse to curse the companions and push a sectarian agenda, which he feels is a disservice to Husayn, who never cursed them in his lifetime. He calls the practice of beating oneself ignorance, noting that many Shia authorities, among them Ayatollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei, have condemned it or considered it haram while others support it, and says it gives a horrid picture of Islam and avails nothing. He closes that the affair belongs to Allah before and after.

## Sources and names cited

- Husayn ibn Ali
- matam (ritual mourning)
- Shia
- Ayatollah Khomeini
- Ayatollah Khamenei
- marja' (Shia religious authority)

## Transcript (machine tier, 1:01:53–1:04:03)

[1:01:52] that if it is destiny, I guess. And it was what it was. It's happened now. So I hope that gives an overall coverage of my take. But I do feel that there's it's not you know, this I don't agree with commemorating mourning the death. Uh and I definitely I want to add here I don't I condemn if people are using the mourning of Hussein as an excuse to curse and to push an agenda of like let's say Shia Islam to say well, let's curse all

[1:02:31] the companions and let's do all this and let's do all that. I do condemn that. I disagree with that strongly. And I feel that's actually a disservice to Hussein on because Hussein in his own lifetime never ever cursed those people. So if you're using his tragedy to curse them, then I I I feel that you are equally a disappointment.

[1:02:57] So that's all of that. And as to the issue of the kind of beating this I feel is just ignorance. And to be fair, many Shia have condemned it as well. Many Maraji you've got um Ayatollah Khomeini, even Ayatollah Khamenei they he condemned it as well. Like many Maraji, many Ayatollahs have have considered the beating of yourself haram.

[1:03:25] Um and others have supported it, but I think that's ignorance. It really gives a horrid picture of Islam uh to people and it doesn't really avail anything. And it just shows that the kind of Muslims are brutes. Okay, kind of gives that image. So I hope this has given some clarity on this matter.

[1:03:47] I've been asked, you know, I suppose the matter the affair belongs to Allah from before and after. And the matter the affair belongs to Allah from before and after.

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment iaBL5ViS3Rg/s/18. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/iabl5vis3rg/s/18/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.