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The senior scholars, hadith experts, jurists, and Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah have strongly condemned Yazid bin Muawiyah for his crimes—particularly the killing of Husayn (RA), the incident of Harrah, and the attack on the Ka‘bah. Some have even explicitly cursed him. Below is a sequence of statements from eminent scholars, with their Arabic text, Urdu translation, and references.
قال صالح بن أحمد بن حنبل:
«قلتُ لأبي: إنَّ قومًا ينسبوننا إلى تولّي يزيد. فقال: يا بُنيَّ، وهل يتولّى يزيدَ أحدٌ يؤمن بالله؟ ولمَ لا نلعنُ مَن لعنه اللهُ في كتابه! فقلتُ: وأين لعنَ اللهُ يزيدَ في كتابه؟ فقال: في قوله تعالى: ﴿فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ…﴾ فهل يكون فسادٌ أعظمُ من القتل؟»
Translation:
Salih bin Ahmad bin Hanbal says:
I said to my father, Imam Ahmad (RA): "Some people attribute us to loving Yazid."
Imam Ahmad replied:
"My son! Can anyone who believes in Allah love Yazid? And why should we not curse the one whom Allah has cursed in His Book?"
I asked: "Where has Allah cursed Yazid in the Qur'an?"
He said: Allah’s statement:
﴿فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ…﴾ (Those who cause corruption in the land and sever family ties—upon them is the curse of Allah)
Then he said: "Is there any greater corruption on earth than the killing of Husayn (RA)?"
Reference: al-Nasa’ih al-Kafiyah by Ibn ‘Aqil, p. 31
قال ابن الجوزي في كتابه "الرد على المتعصب العنيد المانع من ذمّ يزيد":
«أجاز العلماءُ الوَرِعون لعنه.»
Translation:
Allama Ibn al-Jawzi writes in al-Radd ‘ala al-Muta‘assib al-‘Anid:
"The pious and God-fearing scholars have deemed it permissible to curse Yazid."
References: al-Radd ‘ala al-Muta‘assib al-‘Anid, Fayd al-Qadir by Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari, vol. 1, p. 265
In his treatise on those deserving curses, Qadi Abu Ya‘la includes Yazid bin Muawiyah:
«من توقّف في لعن يزيد فهو جاهلٌ بالحال، أو منافق، يُداهن الناس. وقد قالوا: المؤمنُ لا يَلعن، وهذا فيمن لا يستحق اللعن، أما من لعنَه اللهُ ورسولُه، ولعنَه السلفُ الصالحُ، فلِمَ لا يُلعن؟»
Translation:
"Whoever refrains from cursing Yazid is either ignorant of the matter or (God forbid) a hypocrite trying to please people. Some say: 'A believer does not curse'—this applies only to those who do not deserve it. As for the one whom Allah and His Messenger ﷺ cursed, and the righteous predecessors cursed, why should he not be cursed?"
Reference: Juz’ fi La‘n Yazid – Qadi Abu Ya‘la
«كان ناصبيًّا فظًّا غليظًا جلفًا، يتناول المُسكر ويفعل المُنكر. افتتح دولتَه بمقتلِ الشهيد الحسين، واختتمها بواقعة الحرّة، فمَقَتَه الناسُ ولم يُبارك اللهُ في عُمُره، وخرج عليه غيرُ واحدٍ بعد الحسين.»
Translation:
"Yazid was a Nasibi (enemy of Ahl al-Bayt), harsh-hearted, ignorant, and foul-mouthed. He drank alcohol and committed evil deeds. He began his rule with the killing of the martyr Husayn (RA) and ended it with the incident of Harrah. People despised him, Allah did not bless his life, and many rose against him after Husayn (RA)."
References: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’, vol. 4 (Yazid’s biography); Tarikh al-Islam (sections on Harrah and Karbala)
«فكتب يزيدُ إلى واليه بالعراق عبيد الله بن زياد، يأمره بقتال الحسين… فقتل (الحسين) وجيء برأسه حتى وُضع بين يدي ابن زياد. لعن اللهُ قاتلَه وابنَ زياد معه ويزيدَ أيضًا.»
Translation:
"Yazid wrote to his governor in Iraq, ‘Ubaydullah bin Ziyad, ordering him to fight Husayn (RA)… so Husayn was killed, and his head was brought and placed before Ibn Ziyad. May Allah curse his killer, Ibn Ziyad, and Yazid as well."
Reference: Tarikh al-Khulafa’ by al-Suyuti, pp. 243–244
«والحقُّ أنَّ رضا يزيد بقتل الحسين واستبشارَه بذلك وإهانتَه أهلَ بيت النبي ﷺ ممّا تواتر معناه… لعنةُ الله عليه وعلى أعوانه وأنصاره.»
Translation:
"The truth is that Yazid’s approval of Husayn’s killing, his delight in it, and his insulting of the Prophet’s ﷺ family are matters whose meaning is established through multiple transmissions, even if details differ. Therefore, we do not hesitate in our stance toward him; in fact, regarding his faith and disbelief, we have no doubt (that he was near disbelief). May Allah’s curse be upon him, his supporters, and his helpers."
Reference: Sharh al-‘Aqa’id al-Nasafiyyah, p. 181
«لقد أفرط بعضُ أهل العلم… حتى حكموا بأن الحسين (رضي الله عنه) باغٍ على الخميرِ السكّيرِ الهاتكِ لحُرمة الشريعة يزيد بن معاوية، لعنهم الله!…»
Translation:
"Some scholars—such as the Karramiyyah and those who agreed with them—went to extremes, ruling that Husayn (RA) was a rebel against that wine-drinking, drunken, and shameless violator of the sanctity of Shari‘ah, Yazid bin Muawiyah. May Allah curse them! Such statements make the skin shiver in horror…"
Reference: Nayl al-Awtar, vol. 7, p. 362
«اتّفق الأجِلّاءُ على جواز لعنه، لأفعاله القبيحة وتطاوله على العترة الطاهرة.»
Translation:
"The eminent scholars have unanimously agreed on the permissibility of cursing him because of his vile actions and his transgression against the pure family of the Prophet ﷺ."
References: Sabb al-‘Adhab ‘ala man Sabb al-Ashab, p. 453; Tafsir Ruh al-Ma‘ani (Surah Muhammad, Ayah 22)
قال الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين رحمه الله:
«يزيد بن معاوية ليس من الصحابة… فلعنة الله على من قتل الحسين أو أمر بقتله أو رضي بذلك.»
Translation:
"Yazid bin Muawiyah was not from the Companions, and during his rule, great evils occurred, including the killing of Husayn (RA). The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah differed regarding him: some cursed him, some called him a sinner, and some remained silent. The correct view is that he was a sinful tyrant. He should neither be loved, nor approval shown for him, nor prayed for. Rather, if it is proven that he ordered the killing of Husayn or was pleased with it, then he should be cursed—because this is one of the gravest of major sins. So may Allah’s curse be upon whoever killed Husayn, ordered his killing, or was pleased with it."
Reference: Fatawa Nur ‘ala al-Darb – Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Shawwal 1413H, Question No. 340, vol. 24, pp. 122–124
The senior scholars, hadith experts, jurists, and Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah have strongly condemned Yazid bin Muawiyah for his crimes—particularly the killing of Husayn (RA), the incident of Harrah, and the attack on the Ka‘bah. Some have even explicitly cursed him. Below is a sequence of statements from eminent scholars, with their Arabic text, Urdu translation, and references.
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (d. 241 AH)
قال صالح بن أحمد بن حنبل:
«قلتُ لأبي: إنَّ قومًا ينسبوننا إلى تولّي يزيد. فقال: يا بُنيَّ، وهل يتولّى يزيدَ أحدٌ يؤمن بالله؟ ولمَ لا نلعنُ مَن لعنه اللهُ في كتابه! فقلتُ: وأين لعنَ اللهُ يزيدَ في كتابه؟ فقال: في قوله تعالى: ﴿فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ…﴾ فهل يكون فسادٌ أعظمُ من القتل؟»
Translation:
Salih bin Ahmad bin Hanbal says:
I said to my father, Imam Ahmad (RA): "Some people attribute us to loving Yazid."
Imam Ahmad replied:
"My son! Can anyone who believes in Allah love Yazid? And why should we not curse the one whom Allah has cursed in His Book?"
I asked: "Where has Allah cursed Yazid in the Qur'an?"
He said: Allah’s statement:
﴿فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ…﴾ (Those who cause corruption in the land and sever family ties—upon them is the curse of Allah)
Then he said: "Is there any greater corruption on earth than the killing of Husayn (RA)?"
Reference: al-Nasa’ih al-Kafiyah by Ibn ‘Aqil, p. 31
Imam Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH)
قال ابن الجوزي في كتابه "الرد على المتعصب العنيد المانع من ذمّ يزيد":
«أجاز العلماءُ الوَرِعون لعنه.»
Translation:
Allama Ibn al-Jawzi writes in al-Radd ‘ala al-Muta‘assib al-‘Anid:
"The pious and God-fearing scholars have deemed it permissible to curse Yazid."
References: al-Radd ‘ala al-Muta‘assib al-‘Anid, Fayd al-Qadir by Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari, vol. 1, p. 265
Qadi Abu Ya‘la al-Hanbali (d. 458 AH)
In his treatise on those deserving curses, Qadi Abu Ya‘la includes Yazid bin Muawiyah:
«من توقّف في لعن يزيد فهو جاهلٌ بالحال، أو منافق، يُداهن الناس. وقد قالوا: المؤمنُ لا يَلعن، وهذا فيمن لا يستحق اللعن، أما من لعنَه اللهُ ورسولُه، ولعنَه السلفُ الصالحُ، فلِمَ لا يُلعن؟»
Translation:
"Whoever refrains from cursing Yazid is either ignorant of the matter or (God forbid) a hypocrite trying to please people. Some say: 'A believer does not curse'—this applies only to those who do not deserve it. As for the one whom Allah and His Messenger ﷺ cursed, and the righteous predecessors cursed, why should he not be cursed?"
Reference: Juz’ fi La‘n Yazid – Qadi Abu Ya‘la
Hafiz Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi (d. 748 AH)
«كان ناصبيًّا فظًّا غليظًا جلفًا، يتناول المُسكر ويفعل المُنكر. افتتح دولتَه بمقتلِ الشهيد الحسين، واختتمها بواقعة الحرّة، فمَقَتَه الناسُ ولم يُبارك اللهُ في عُمُره، وخرج عليه غيرُ واحدٍ بعد الحسين.»
Translation:
"Yazid was a Nasibi (enemy of Ahl al-Bayt), harsh-hearted, ignorant, and foul-mouthed. He drank alcohol and committed evil deeds. He began his rule with the killing of the martyr Husayn (RA) and ended it with the incident of Harrah. People despised him, Allah did not bless his life, and many rose against him after Husayn (RA)."
References: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’, vol. 4 (Yazid’s biography); Tarikh al-Islam (sections on Harrah and Karbala)
Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH)
«فكتب يزيدُ إلى واليه بالعراق عبيد الله بن زياد، يأمره بقتال الحسين… فقتل (الحسين) وجيء برأسه حتى وُضع بين يدي ابن زياد. لعن اللهُ قاتلَه وابنَ زياد معه ويزيدَ أيضًا.»
Translation:
"Yazid wrote to his governor in Iraq, ‘Ubaydullah bin Ziyad, ordering him to fight Husayn (RA)… so Husayn was killed, and his head was brought and placed before Ibn Ziyad. May Allah curse his killer, Ibn Ziyad, and Yazid as well."
Reference: Tarikh al-Khulafa’ by al-Suyuti, pp. 243–244
Allama Sa‘d al-Din al-Taftazani (d. 793 AH)
«والحقُّ أنَّ رضا يزيد بقتل الحسين واستبشارَه بذلك وإهانتَه أهلَ بيت النبي ﷺ ممّا تواتر معناه… لعنةُ الله عليه وعلى أعوانه وأنصاره.»
Translation:
"The truth is that Yazid’s approval of Husayn’s killing, his delight in it, and his insulting of the Prophet’s ﷺ family are matters whose meaning is established through multiple transmissions, even if details differ. Therefore, we do not hesitate in our stance toward him; in fact, regarding his faith and disbelief, we have no doubt (that he was near disbelief). May Allah’s curse be upon him, his supporters, and his helpers."
Reference: Sharh al-‘Aqa’id al-Nasafiyyah, p. 181
Imam Muhammad bin ‘Ali al-Shawkani (d. 1250 AH)
«لقد أفرط بعضُ أهل العلم… حتى حكموا بأن الحسين (رضي الله عنه) باغٍ على الخميرِ السكّيرِ الهاتكِ لحُرمة الشريعة يزيد بن معاوية، لعنهم الله!…»
Translation:
"Some scholars—such as the Karramiyyah and those who agreed with them—went to extremes, ruling that Husayn (RA) was a rebel against that wine-drinking, drunken, and shameless violator of the sanctity of Shari‘ah, Yazid bin Muawiyah. May Allah curse them! Such statements make the skin shiver in horror…"
Reference: Nayl al-Awtar, vol. 7, p. 362
Allama Mahmud al-Alusi al-Baghdadi (d. 1270 AH)
«اتّفق الأجِلّاءُ على جواز لعنه، لأفعاله القبيحة وتطاوله على العترة الطاهرة.»
Translation:
"The eminent scholars have unanimously agreed on the permissibility of cursing him because of his vile actions and his transgression against the pure family of the Prophet ﷺ."
References: Sabb al-‘Adhab ‘ala man Sabb al-Ashab, p. 453; Tafsir Ruh al-Ma‘ani (Surah Muhammad, Ayah 22)
Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-‘Uthaymeen (1347H–1421H)
قال الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين رحمه الله:
«يزيد بن معاوية ليس من الصحابة… فلعنة الله على من قتل الحسين أو أمر بقتله أو رضي بذلك.»
Translation:
"Yazid bin Muawiyah was not from the Companions, and during his rule, great evils occurred, including the killing of Husayn (RA). The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah differed regarding him: some cursed him, some called him a sinner, and some remained silent. The correct view is that he was a sinful tyrant. He should neither be loved, nor approval shown for him, nor prayed for. Rather, if it is proven that he ordered the killing of Husayn or was pleased with it, then he should be cursed—because this is one of the gravest of major sins. So may Allah’s curse be upon whoever killed Husayn, ordered his killing, or was pleased with it."
Reference: Fatawa Nur ‘ala al-Darb – Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Shawwal 1413H, Question No. 340, vol. 24, pp. 122–124
