Musnad Ishaq

Benefits:
From the aforementioned hadith, the greatness of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is established, in that even his supplications against (bad du‘a) become a means of mercy and purification for his ummah, because he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was sent as a mercy to all the worlds. As Allah, the Exalted, says: ﴿وَ مَآ اَرْسَلْنٰكَ اِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعٰلَمِیْنَ﴾ () “And We have not sent you (O Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Al-Anbiya: 107)

In another place, He says: ﴿لَقَدْ جَآءَ کُمْ رَسُوْلٌ مِّنْ اَنْفُسِکُمْ عَزِیْزٌ عَلَیْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِیْصٌ عَلَیْکُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِیْمٌ﴾ () “There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves; grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (At-Tawbah: 128)

Who could ever think regarding such a great personality that he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would have spoken ill of someone or sent curses upon them? Rather, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would supplicate for his enemies instead of supplicating against them. As the poet says:
“Even after being pelted with stones by strangers, he supplicates for them,
He conveys the message of universal mercy.”

Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) says: From these ahadith, it is known how compassionate the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was towards his ummah and how eager he was for their benefit and well-being. He would desire for them whatever was beneficial. If the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicated for harm against a Muslim who was not deserving or worthy of it, then this supplication for harm would become a means of mercy, purification, and expiation for that Muslim. However, the supplications against the disbelievers and hypocrites that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) made did not become a mercy for them.

If someone asks: Why did the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicate for harm against someone who was not deserving or worthy of it? Then Allamah Nawawi (rahimahullah), while answering this question, writes: The words of rebuke that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) uttered were not intended in their literal sense. Rather, they are like the expressions used by the Arabs, which they utter without intending their actual meaning, such as “TARIBAT YAMINUK” (“May your right hand be dust-covered”), etc. And such expressions were very rarely uttered by the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), because he was neither indecent nor one who uttered indecencies, nor was he one who would curse unnecessarily, nor would he ever seek revenge for his own self. (As is mentioned in the hadith.) The Companions (radi Allahu anhum) said to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): “Curse the tribe of Daws.” Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “O Allah! Guide Daws.” And he said: “O Allah! Forgive my people, for they do not know (my status).” (Sharh Muslim, by al-Nawawi: pp. 1853–1854, First Edition, Dar Ibn Hazm)