 | | Introduction | | Was there an ijma in Yazeed's Khilafah? | | Yazeed's khilafah rightful? | | The stance of Imam Hussain (as) | | Yazeed's killing of Imam Hussain (as) | | Yazeed's treatment of the Ahl'ulbayt (as) | | Hadith referring to Yazeed | | Analysing hadith blessing Yazeed | | The alleged comments of Muhammad al Hanafiyya | | Cursing Yazeed | | Azam Tariq's false attempts to represent Sunni aqeedah | | Answering common Nasibi Objections to the stance of Imam Husayn (as) | | Conclusion |
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| Chapter: Cursing Yazeed
Answering the Fatwa of Abu Hamid Ibn Ghazzali
The lovers of Yazeed have made efforts to exalt him as a pious and just khalifa who has been the victim of a smear campaign spanning 1,400 years waged by both Sunni and Shia Ulema. They have thus sought to rewrite history. In the midst of all the scholars who condemned Yazeed, including Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal who issued Takfir on him (see above), the Nawasib found one, and only one 'father figure' of traditional Sunni Islam: Ibn Ghazzali. It is interesting to note that the same Nasibis that HATE Ghazzali on account of his Sufi leanings are happy to embrace his position on Yazeed. He miraculously transforms from deviant to the greatest scholar after the four Fiqh Imams. Azam Tariq rants off the prized fatwa as follows:
| Azam Tariq stated: | A QUESTION WAS PUT TO IMAM GHAZZALI WHETHER THERE IS A VALID GROUND FOR CURSING YAZID FOR HIS ALLEGED COMPLICITY IN THE MURDER OF HAZRAT HUSAYN. THE IMAM GHAZZALI REPLIED AS UNDER:-
"IT IS NOT LAWFUL TO CURSE ANY MUSLIM. ANYONE WHO CURSES A MUSLIM IS HIMSELF ACCURSED. RASUL-ALLAH (SAW) SAID: "A MUSLIM IS NOT GIVEN TO CURSING." BESIDES THE ISLAMIC SHARIAH HAS PROHIBITED US FROM EVEN CURSING THE ANIMALS. HOW THEN IT WOULD BE PERMISSIBLE TO CURSE ANY MUSLIM WHEN THE HONOUR OF A MUSLIM IS MORE SACRED THAN THE HOLY KABA AS MENTIONED IN A HADITH (IBN MAJAH).
"THE ISLAMIC FAITH OF YAZID IS PROVED WITHOUT ANY SHADOW OF DOUBT. AS REGARDS THE MURDER OF HUSAYN, THERE IS NO DEFINITE EVIDENCE THAT YAZID EITHER KILLED HIM OR ISSUED ORDERS FOR HIS KILLING OR APPROVED ANY SUCH PLANS. WHEN NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED IN THIS REGARD, HOW WOULD IT BE LAWFUL TO CAST DOUBTS AND ASPERSIONS ON YAZID WHEN ENTERTAINING SUSPICION ABOUT A MUSLIM IS UNLAWFUL IN ISLAM."
ALMIGHTLY ALLAH SAYS IN THE QUR'AN "O YE WHO BELIEVE! SHUN MUCH SUSPICION; FOR LO! SOME SUSPICION IS CRIME. AND SPY NOT, NEITHER BACKBITE ONE ANOTHER. WOULD ONE OF YOU LOVE TO EAT THE FLESH OF HIS DEAD BROTHER? YE ABHOR THAT (SO ABHOR THE OTHER). AND KEEP YOUR DUTY (TO ALLAH)." (49: 12).
HAZRAT ABU HURAIRAH REPORTED ALLAH'S MESSENGER AS SAYING "DESPISING HIS BROTHER MUSLIM IS ENOUGH EVIL FOR ANY ONE TO DO. EVERY MUSLIM'S BLOOD, PROPERTY AND HONOUR ARE SACRED TO A MUSLIM." (MUSLIM).
IMAM GHAZZALI REITERATES:
"ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT YAZID ORDERED THE KILLING OF HUSAYN OR LIKED THE KILLING OF HUSAYN SUCH A PERSON IS ABSOLUTELY FOOL. . . . . . . . ."
"AS REGARDS SAYING (RADIALLAHU ANHA) AFTER THE NAME OF YAZID, THIS IS NOT ONLY PERMISSIBLE BUT COMMENDABLE. IT IS RATHER INCLUDED IN OUR DUA WHEN WE PRAY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF ALL MUSLIMS AND YAZID WAS CERTAINLY A MOMIN (BELIEVER)." ( ,BERIRUT, P. 288). |
Here Ghazzali takes on every other classical Sunni scholar from the year dot to the present-day, by presenting a supporting statement for Yazeed. All four Sunni madhabs, including the four sheikhs deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed (see below).
First Reply
Allah (swt) in his pure book sends curses on various types of people, for example in Surah Baqarah verse 161 we read:
"Those who reject Faith, and die rejecting, - on them is Allah's curse, and the curse of angels, and of all mankind"
In Surah Aal-e-Imran verse 61 we read:
"If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge hath come to thee, say: "Come! Let us gather together, - our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!"
It is stated in Surah Hud verse 18:
Who doth more wrong than those who invent a life against Allah? They will be turned back to the presence of their Lord, and the witnesses will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord! Behold! The Curse of Allah is on those who do wrong!
And Surah Hud verses 59-60:
Such were the 'Ad People: they rejected the Signs of their Lord and Cherisher; disobeyed His messengers; And followed the command of every powerful, obstinate transgressor.
And they were pursued by a Curse in this life, - and on the Day of Judgment. Ah! Behold! For the 'Ad rejected their Lord and Cherisher! Ah! Behold! Removed (from sight) were 'Ad the people of Hud!
Surah Maida verse 78:
Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.
These verses prove that it is the Sunnah of Allah (swt) and his prophets (peace be upon all of them) to curse rejecters. Can there be a greater rejecter that Yazeed who rejected the Ahl'ul bayt (as), the Qur'an stipulates love for them to be a part of Deen; he killed them and openly rejected the Prophethood of Rasulullah (s)?
Second Reply
Ghazzali supporters should refrain from cursing the Devil - since according to Ghazzali the act of cursing someone that you do not know is pointless, and it is better to use one's tongue to recite Surah Fateha. This type of logic contradicts the practice Allah (swt) and his Rasul (s) - for no man can be as forgiving and pious as Rasulullah (s), and yet we learn that at various points during his life that he would curse his enemies and those of Allah (swt). If Ghazzali would deem this practice to be a sin then is he accusing Rasulullah (s) of indulging in sinful actions?
Third Reply
It is very amusing that these Nawasib afford Ghazzali this rank because he gave this pro Yazeed fatwa - but fail to apply the Fatwa to their own lives. They have issued takfeer and cursed other Muslim Sects such as the Shi'a and Barelvi, indeed no one has escaped their takfeer tirade. They accept one part of the fatwa and then leave the part that serves no benefit to them - if they deem Ghazzali to be a reliable Hujjut-ul-Islam then should they not be adhering to everything that their dear imam had said? Instead they curse the Sufis, and Ghazali is famous for being his Sufi leanings.
Fourth Reply
We read in Al Bidayah Wal Nihayah (Urdu), Vol 8 Page 1147:
"Rasulullah (s) said whoever perpetuated injustice and frightened the residents of Madina, the curse (la'nat) of Allah (swt), His Angels and all people is on such a person"
 Al Bidayah Wal Nihayah (Urdu), Vol 8 Page 1147, Nafees Academy Karachi
We have already presented the event of Harra before our readers and shown how Yazeed ordered his Nasibi troops to attack the city of Madina. Rasulullah (s) cursed those that caused fear to Madina. When Rasulullah (s) cursed an individual that perpetrated such an act then what right does this third rate Nasibi group have to demand that we refrain from cursing Yazeed? Whoever adheres to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (s) shall definitely curse Yazeed.
Fifth Reply
Sura Rad verse 25:
But those who break the Covenant of Allah, after having plighted their word thereto, and cut asunder those things which Allah has commanded to be joined, and work mischief in the land; - on them is the curse; for them is the terrible home!
Surah Ash Shura verse 151-2:
"And follow not the bidding of those who are extravagant, - Who make mischief in the land, and mend not (their ways)."
The sum total of these two verses is as follows:
- We should steer away from mischief makers
- Allah (swt) has cursed those that indulge in mischief through the land
With these two verses in mind, now contemplate this verse:
Surah Baqarah verse 220:
"Their bearings on this life and the Hereafter. They ask thee concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good; if ye mix their affairs with yours, they are your brethren; but Allah knows the man who means mischief from the man who means good. And if Allah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties: He is indeed Exalted in
Power, Wise."
We would appeal to those with open minds to decide for themselves whose intention was mischief and whose intention was good in this circumstance? There are two paths: one of the Banu Ummayya with Yazeed at the helm (the Nasibi path) and one of Ahl'ul bayt (as) with a Shia Imam in Husayn (as) at the helm - which of these two individuals was working for the benefit of the Deen and for the salvation of our souls? Who was the mischief monger whose actions have been cursed by Allah (swt)?
Was the killing of Imam Husayn (as) not an act of Fitnah? Was the attack on Madina, slaughtering and raping its inhabitants not an act of Fitnah? Was the assault on Makka that included catapulting the Kaaba with fire causing it to catch fire not acts of Fitnah. Was killing men in the most sacred of all sanctuaries where it is forbidden to kill even an ant an act of Fitnah? It is forbidden to kill a man in the sanctuary of the Ka'aba even if that man is about to kill you, yet Yazeed slaughtered innocents there! There is no need to exercise caution when one is cursing an enemy of Allah (swt). It is a praiseworthy act so long as it does not create Fitnah.
Reply Six - The Ulema of Ahl'ul Sunnah deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed
Imam Ahmad issued Takfeer against drunkard Yazeed and deemed it permissible to curse him
The Salafi cult having close ties with the Hanbali doctrine. Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal’s unequivocal Takfer against Yazeed has such difficulties to the Salafies and other Nawasib who revere him that they have sought to cast doubts on the existence of such an edict and have instead suggested he urged his adherents to ermain neutral and maintain silence on the matter. This approach is of no value when we have the testimonies of various Sunni scholars. Imam Ahmed not only issued Takfeer against Yazeed but proved Yazeed to be an accursed person with the help of a Quranic verse. In Sharh Fiqh Akbar, page 88 we read the following account about Yazeed:
"He considered alcohol halal and at the time of killing Husayn and his companions, he stated: 'I have avenged the death of my ancestors at Badr' and other statements like this. This is the reason that Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal declared Yazeed to be a kaafir as the copy of Yazeed's statement was proved authentic to him (Imam Ahmed)"
Allamah Syed Mahmood Alusi al-Baghdadi (d. 1270 H) under the commentary of 47:22-23 as well as other Sunni scholars quoted the following opinion of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal regarding Yazeed:
Al-Barzanji in al-Isha'at and al-Haythami in al-Sawaiq have recorded that Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal's son (Saleh) narrated that he said to his father that he had seen people saying that they love Yazeed bin Muawiya. To this Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal said "For a person having belief in Allah there was no reason to love Yazeed bin Muawiya. Why should the person not be cursed who has been cursed by Allah in the Quran. To this Saleh asked that where in the Quran had Allah cursed Yazeed bin Muawiya. Imam Ahmed replied quoting the verse: 'Then, is it to be expected of you, if ye were put in authority, that ye 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. Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an, or are their hearts locked up by them?' [47:22-24].
1. Tafseer Ruh al-Ma'ani, Volume 26 page 227
 Tafseer Ruh al-Ma'ani, Volume 26 page 72
2. Tafsir Mazhari (Urdu), volume 10 page 326 (Published by Darul Isha'at Karachi)
3. Ghidha al-albab li-Sharh Manzumat al-Adab by Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Saffarini al-Hanbali (d. 1188), Volume 1 page 182
4. Adab Shari'a by ibn Muflih al-Hanbali, Volume 1 page 342
5. al-Rad ala al-Mutaseb al-Aneed al-Mane le zam Yazeed, page 41
In Sawaiq al-Muhriqa (Urdu), page 734, the conversation ends with the words of Imam Ahmed:
"Can there be any worse fitna than this murder (of Hussain)?"
Sawaiq al-Muhriqa (Urdu), pages 733-734
Some shameless supporters of Yazeed may argue that Imam Ahmed was of the opinion to keep silence in the matter of Yazeed instead of cursing him, then for all such Nawasib we should point out that the above cited stance of Imam Ahmed has been narrated by out and out authentic personalities of Ahle Sunnah therefore, any other statement of Imam Ahmed contradicting the above stance automatically losses its credibility. Now in order to know the authenticity of the tradition, let us see the chain of narration recorded by Imam Ibn Jauzi in his book al-Rad ala al-Mutaseb al-Aneed al-Mane le zam Yazeed, page 41:
“Abu Jaffar al-Akbari from Abu Ali al-Hussain bin al-Junaid from Abu Talib bin Shahab al-Akbari from Abu Bakr Muhammad bin al-Abbas from Saleh bin Ahmad bin Hanbal who said:…”
Abu Jaffar al-Akbari: Dahabi said: ‘Thiqah’ (Tarikh al-Islam, v23 p218). Al-Hussain bin Junaid: Dahabi said: ‘Authenticated’ (Al-Kashif, v1 p332). Abu Talib bin Shehab al-Akbari: Dahabi said: ‘Thiqah’ (Tarikh al-Islam, v25 p380). Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Abbas: Dahabi said: ‘Muhadith Imam’ (Siar alam alnubala, v15 p513). Saleh bin Ahmad bin Hanbal: Dahabi said: ‘Imam Muhadith Hafiz’ (Siar alam alnubala, v12 p529).
Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafiyee and Imam Malik deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed
Prominent Shafiyee scholar Shaykh Sulaiman bin Muhammad bin Umar al-Bejarmi (d. 1221 H) records:
أن للإمام أحمد قولا بلعن يزيد تلويحا وتصريحا وكذا للإمام مالك وكذا لأبي حنيفة ولنا قول بذلك في مذهب إمامنا الشافعي وكان يقول بذلك الأستاذ البكري .ومن كلام بعض أتباعه في حق يزيد ما لفظه زاده الله خزيا ومنعه وفي أسفل سجين وضعه
"Imam Ahmad has statements about cursing Yazeed both Talweeh (directly) and Tasreeh (indirectly) and so has Imam Malik and Abu Hanifa and we have similar statements in the madhab of our Imam Shafiyee and al-Bakri also said the same. Some of his (al-Bakri's) followers said about Yazeed 'may Allah increase his disgrace and put him in the lowest level of hell'"
Hashyat al-Bejarmi, Volume 12 page 369
Shaykh Kamaluddin Muhammad bin Musa Damiri in his famed work Hayaat ul Haywaan, Volume 2 page 175 records:
إن لكل واحد من أبي حنيفة ومالك وأحمد في لعن يزيد قولين ، تصريح وتلويح
"Abu Hanifa, Malik and Ahmad have two statements about cursing Yazeed, Tasreeh (i.e. to curse him by taking his name) and another one is with Talweeh (i.e. to curse without taking his name and only by using hint e.g. May Allah curse the killers of Imam Hussain)"
Allamah Mahmood Alusi's takfeer against Yazeed and deeming it permissible to curse him
Allamah Syed Mahmood Alusi al-Baghdadi (d. 1270 H) in his famed commentary of Quran namely Tafseer Ruh al-Ma'ani, Volume 26 page 73 under the commentary of the verse 47:22-23, wrote his views about Yazeed in the following words:
"And I say what is prevalent over my mind that (Yazeed) Khabeeth did not testify to the messengership of the Holy Prophet (s)... According to me it is correct to curse a person like Yazeed, although one cannot imagine a Fasiq like him and apparently he never repented, the possibility of his repentance is weaker than the possibility of his faith (Iman). Along with Yazeed, Ibn Ziyad, Ibn Sa'ad and his group shall also be included. Verily, may Allah's curse be upon all of them, their friends, their supporters, their group and upon everyone who inclines towards them until Qayamah and until an eye sheds a tear for Abu Abdullah Hussain (ra)"
Tafseer Ruh al-Ma'ani, Volume 26 page 73
Tafseer Ruh al-Ma'ani, Volume 26 pages 228-229
In his another book al-Baqyat al-Salehat, page 17, he stated about cursing Yazeed:
أنا أذهب إلى جواز لعن مثله
"I believe that cursing him (Yazeed) is lawful"
We should point out that Ghazzali was an adherent of the Shaafi madhab and so was Allamah Alusi who set out the viewpoint of the Shaafi Ulema on this topic as follows:
"Amongst the Shaafi's we are in agreement that it is permissible to curse Yazeed"
Haseeya Nabraas page 551
When a renowned Shaafi scholar has taken the responsibility to reflect the opinion of the Shaafi Ulema, confirming that they deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed, then the opposite voice of Imam Ghazzali's fatwa becomes batil (false).
We have cited actual Sunni texts wherein the grand Sunni Ulema deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed. Azam Tariq seeks solace in the fatwa of al Ghazzali. Now whose fatwa bears greater value, the sole fatwa of Ibn Ghazzali or the fatwas of all the Sunni Ulama that we cited? Why should this single Ghazzali fatwa be deemed to be strong and conclusive enough to nullify the fatwas of all these Sunni Ulema? Would the more correct approach not to be to reject Ghazzali's fatwa and give greater credence to these Salaf Ulema who had an ijma (consensus) that it was permissible to curse Yazeed? Why are the Salafi and Deobandi seeking to create doubts over a matter that has attained a broad consensus amongst the Sunni Ulema? In reality by quoting Ghazzali they are trying to divide the Sufis, who they are well-known to despise. Our du'a is that Allah (swt) guides these advocates of Yazeed to disown and hate him and to develop faith and love for the family of the Prophet (s).
Qadhi Thanaullah Paani Patti's takfeer against Yazeed and deeming it permissible to curse him
Qadhi Thanaullah Paani Patti (d. 1225) was a Sunni scholar of the twelfth century, who studied under the teachings of Shah Waliullah Muhadith Dehalvi (d. 1176 H) while his anti-Shia son Shah Abdul Aziz Muhadith Dehalvi (d. 1239 H) would call Qadhi Thanaullah the 'Behaqqi of his time'. He was also the Khalifa of Mirza Mazhar Jaan Janan (d. 1195 H) who would refer to Qadhi Thanaullah as 'Ilm al-Huda'. His commentary of the Holy Quran, Tafseer Mazhari is popular among the Sunni masses particularly amongst the Deobandies. The following views of Qadhi Thanaullah about Yazeed will silence those Deobandies who adhere to the Salafi/Wahabi stance of absolving Yazeed from his Kufr. Qadhi wrote:
Yazeed and his associates did Kufr with the bounties of Allah. They deemed it their aim to have a grudge against the progeny of the Prophet (s) and murdered Hussain (ra) with oppression and Yazeed did Kufr with the religion of Prophet (s) to the extent that Yazeed recited the following couplets over the murder of Hussain (ra)
'Where are my ancestors, they should come and see that I have take revenge from the progeny of the Prophet and Bani Hashim'.
And the last prose is:
'I would not be from the progeny of Jandab had I not taken revenge from the progeny of Ahmad for whatever they had done.'
Moreover, he made alcohol Halal and these are his couplets for alcohol:
'The treasure of alcohol is in a utensil which is like silver and the branch of grapes are loaded by grapes which are like stars, the depth of the branch of grapes is alternate for the stars over sun, the east of this sun (alcohol) is the hand of the drinker while the place for the sunset (alcohol) is my mouth, thus, if one day alcohol was made Haram in Ahmad's religion, then O addressee, you just take it according to the religion of Masih ibn Mariam (i.e. deem it Halal)'
Tafseer Mazhari [Arabic], Volume 5 page 271, commentary of 14:29
Tafseer Mazhari [Urdu], Volume 6 pages 202-203, commentary of 14:29
Qadhi Thanaullah in one of his letters wrote:
"Verily, the Kufr of Yazeed is proven from authentic traditions, thus he is worthy of being cursed, though there isnt any benefit in cursing him but 'Al-Hub fi Allah' (love for the sake of Allah) and 'Al-Bughz fi Allah' (hatred for the sake of Allah) demands it. [Maktubaat, page 203]"
Imam Paak aur Yazeed Paleed, page 104 (Zia ul Quran publications, Lahore)
Shafiyee jurist Ibn Ali bin Emaaduddin deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed
Let us proceed with the views of the great Shafiyee scholar al-Kesa al-Harsi. The prestigious rank of this Shafiyee scholar and his views about Yazeed are recorded by Ibn Katheer:
"Ibn Ali bin Emaaduddin Abu Hassan Tabari, who was known as al-Kesa al-Herasi and was amongst the activist pioneer jurists (Fuqaha) of Shafiya (sect), he was born in 450 H. He benefited from Imam al-Harmayn, he and Imam Ghazzali are amongst his prominent students...at Nizamamiyah in Nishapur, he used to curse Iblis seven times at every stair of Nizamiya and there were 70 stairs in all. He heard plenty of hadiths, he debated, issued edicts, taught and was amongst the Akabir Fuzala and master of jurists...And he was asked an edict about Yazeed bin Muawiyah to which he mentioned that Yazeed was a cheater and immoral and deemed it permissible to slander him"
Al Badayah wal Nihayah [Arabic], Volume 12 page 213
Shaykh Kamaluddin Muhammad bin Musa Damiri (742-808 H) in 'Hayaat ul Haywaan' Volume 2 page 196 recorded the views of this great Shafiyee scholar in detail. When he was asked whether it is permissible to curse Yazeed, he replied:
وأما قول السلف ففيه لكل واحد من أبي حنيفة ومالك وأحمد قولان: تصريح وتلويح. ولنا قول واحد: التصريح دون التلويح، وكيف لا يكون كذلك وهو المتصيد بالفهد واللاعب بالنرد ومدمن الخمر؟ ومن شعره في الخمر قوله:
أقول لصحب ضمت الكأس شملهم ... وداعي صبابات الهوى يترنم
خذوا بنصيب من نعيم ولذة ... فكل وإن طال المدى يتصرم
"As for cursing him, there are two types of statements from the Salaf Saliheen, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmed Hanbal, one statement is with Tasreeh (i.e. to curse him by taking his name) and another one is with Talweeh (i.e. to curse without taking his name and only by using hint e.g. May Allah curse the killers of Imam Hussain) but according to us, there is only one statement which is Tasreeh, not the Talweeh and why should that not be the case since Yazeed used to play the game of hunting cheetahs, chess and always used to drink alcohol thus amongst his couplets, the one regarding alcohol is:
I say to my friends who have been gathered by the alcohol and the warmness of romance are calling in rhythm to take your portion of bounties and enjoyment because every person shall die no matter how long his age is (thus do all kinds of enjoyment you want to do in this short time span)."
Allamah Ibn Khalikaan (d. 681 H) in Wafayat al-A'yan, Volume 3 page 287 also recorded the very text with difference of words.
Wafayat al-A'yan, Volume 3 page 287
Imam Saaduddin Taftazani deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed and he personally did so
Imam of Ahle Sunnah Saaduddin Taftazani also cursed and issued takfeer against Yazeed, as recorded by Imam Ibn Emaad Hanbali (d. 1089 H) as well as by Allamah Mahmood Alusi under the commentary of 47:22-23:
نتوقف في شأنه بل في كفره وإيمانه لعنة الله عليه وعلى أنصاره وأعوانه
'We don't delay in his (Yazeed's) case, not even in his kufr and faith, may Allah curse him, his supporters and his helpers'
1. Shadharat al Dhahab, Volume 1 pages 68-69
2. Tafseer Ruh al-Ma'ani, Volume 26 page 72
Shafiyee scholar Shaykh Sulaiman bin Muhammad bin Umar al-Bejarmi (d. 1221 H) while referring to Imam Saduddin Taftazani’s authority work Sharah Aqaid records:
وفي شرح عقائد السعد يجوز لعن يزيد
“According to Sharh Aqaid al-Saad, it is permissible to curse Yazeed”
Hashyat al-Bejarmi, Volume 12 page 369
In his book Sharah Maqasid, Imam Saaduddin Taftazani stated:
“The injustices perpetuated against Ahlulbayt are so clear that no one can deny them…may Allah curse those who committed injustices against them…if they say that there are some scholars who don’t allow the cursing of Yazeed whilst the acknowledge he is worthy of it, we say that he deserves it…how can such legitimacy remain unclear to them? how can there be no agreement on this?”
Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti personally cursed Yazeed
Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti is also one of those prestigious Sunni scholars who personally cursed Yazeed, we read in Tareekh Khulafa:
"Allah's curse be upon all three Ibn Ziyad, Yazeed and the killer of Imam Hussain"
Tareekh ul Khulafa (Urdu) page 208, published by Nafees Academy Karachi
Imam Shawkani personally cursed Yazeed
Imam Showkani who enjoys authority amongst the Salafi cult also cursed Yazeed. We read in Nail al-Awtar, Volume 7 page 201:
الخمير السكير الهاتك لحرم الشريعة المطهرة يزيد بن معاوية لعنهم الله
“The alcoholic drunk, who disgraced the pure divine law, Yazeed bin Mu'awiya may Allah curse him”
Nail al-Awtar, Volume 7 page 201
Hanafi Imam Mullah Ali Qari deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed
While answering a question over whether it is permissible to curse Muawiyah, Imam of Ahle Sunnah Mullah Ali Qari replied:
"It is not permissible but it is permissible to curse Yazeed, Ibn Ziyad and their likes. [Sharah Shifa, Volume 2 page 556]"
Imam Paak aur Yazeed Paleed, page 93 (Zia ul Quran publications, Lahore)
Imam Ibn Jauzi deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed
Now comes the discussion of one of the revered jurists of Ahle Sunnah namely Abul Faraj Ibn al-Jauzi (d. 597 H) who deemed the act of cursing Yazeed so important that he wrote a separate book on this topic and this has caused such a serious damage to the lovers of Muawiyah’s vile family that they have sought to deny the aforesaid stance of their Imam Ibn Jauzi. A modern day Sunni scholar G F Haddad also joined the camp:
| G F Haddad stated: | Abdu'r-Rahman Abu'l-Faraj Bin Jauzi has written a book on this subject, Kitabu'l-Radd la'l-Muta'asibu'l-Anidu'l-Mani'an La'n-e-Yazid La'natullah.
Ibn al-Jawzi was a prolific author of over seven hundred books, but I doubt very much that the above is one of them. This can be checked by looking up the Kuwaiti publishing house of Idarat al-Buhuth wa al-Turath who brought out a complete bibliography and manucriptography of his works a few years ago |
http://www.abc.se/~m9783/fiqhi/fiqha_e83.html
It is strange to see that a modern day Sunni is trying to cast doubts on the existence of such a book on the basis of personal opinion without any corroborative evidence to support his stance and relied on the bibliography of a recent publishing house that had no details of this Ibn Jauzi's work in their list. How can a famed scholar advance such feeble arguments! We should state that it doesn’t require rocket science to check his book and confirm the same moreover the testimonies of some of the esteemed (early) Sunni scholars about the stance of Ibn Jauzi should suffice to water down Nasibi denials and Hadad's personal baseless guess work. To enable this let us cite the testimony of the orthodox early Sunni Imam Ibn Kathir (774 H):
وانتصر لذلك أبو الفرج بن الجوزي في مصنف مفرد، وجوز لعنته
“Abul Faraj Ibn Jauzi wrote a separate book deeming it permissible to curse Yazeed".
Al Bidayah Wal Nihayah (Urdu), Vol 8 Page 1148, Nafees Academy Karachi
Similarly Imam Abdulrauf al-Munawi in his authority work Faidh al-Qadir Sharah Jami al-Saghir, Volume 1 page 204 stated:
قال أبو الفرج بن الجوزي في كتابه الرد على المتعصب العنيد المانع من ذم يزيد أجاز العلماء الورعون لعنه
"Abu al-Faraj bin al-Jauzi stated in his book 'al-Rad ala al-Mutasib al-Aneed al-M'ane men zam Yazeed' that the pious scholars allowed cursing him"
Faidh al-Qadir, Volume 1 page 204 Tradition 281
Moreover Shaykh Sulaiman bin Muhammad bin Umar al-Bejarmi (d. 1221 H) also testified:
قال ابن الجوزي : أجاز العلماء الورعون لعن يزيد وصنف في إباحة لعنه مصنفا
“Ibn al-Jauzi said: ‘The pious scholars permitted the cursing of Yazeed’ and he wrote a book about its permissibility”
Hashyat al-Bejarmi, Volume 12 page 369
Now for the pathetic argument that a modern day publishing house has not recorded the name of this book along with the names of the books written by Imam Ibn Jauzi, we should point out that the following esteem biographical Sunni works confirm that the book under discussion was authored by Imam Ibn Jauzi:
1. Kashf al-Zunun, by Haji Khalifa, v1, p839
2. Hidyat al-Arafeen, by Allamah Ismail Pasha Baghdadi, v1, p521
3. Mu'ajam al-Moalafeen, by Umar Raza Kahala, v6, p178
As a final slap in the ugly face of Nasibism, we herewith attach a scan of the cover of Ibn Jauzi’s book under discussion i.e. Al-Rad ala al-Mutaseb al-Aneed Al-Manee men Zam Yazeed (The answer to the stubborn fanatic who prevents the cursing Yazeed) revised by a Sunni shcolar Dr. Haytham Abdulsalam Muhammad:
Al-Rad ala al-Mutaseb al-Aneed Al-Manee men Zam Yazeed (published in Beruit)
Al-Khilal, Abu Bakr Abdul Aziz, Qadhi Abu Yala and Qadhi Abul Husayn deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed
Ibn Kathir writes in Al Bidayah Wal Nihayah:
"Whoever frightens Madina incurs the wrath of Allah, His Angels and all the people". Those people who deem it permissible to curse Yazeed bin Muawiyah deem this and other similar kinds of hadiths as a base and this tradition is from Ahmad ibn Hanbal and has been taken by Al-Khilal, Abu Bakr Abdul Aziz, Qadhi Abu Yala and his son Qadhi Abul Hussain. Abul Faraj Ibn Jauzi wrote a separate book deeming it permissible to curse Yazeed".
Al Bidayah Wal Nihayah (Urdu), Vol 8 Page 1148, Nafees Academy Karachi
Regarding the view of Qadhi Abu al-Hussain mentioned by Ibn Kathir, Shaykh Kamaluddin Damiri in his book Hayaat ul Haywaan, Volume 2 page 174 has elaborated the same:
وقال القاضي أبو الحسين محمد بن القاضي أبي يعلى بن الفراء الحنبلي - وقد صنف كتابا فيه بيان من يستحق اللعن وذكر فيهم يزيد : الممتنع من لعن يزيد إما أن يكون غير عالم بجواز ذلك ، أو منافقا يريد أن يوهم بذلك ، وربما استفز الجهال بقوله (ص) : المؤمن لا يكون لعانا ، وهذا محمول على من لا يستحق اللعن
The Qadhi Abul Hussain Muhammad bin al-Qadhi Abu Y'ala al-Faraa al-Hanbali wrote a book about those who deserve to be cursed and he included Yazeed and said: ‘Who ever forbids cursing Yazeed must be unaware of the lawfulness of cursing him or he is a hypocrite who wants to give the false impression and maybe he gives false impression to the ignorant ones by (the prophet’s (s)) statement: ‘The believer never curses’ while this (tradition) is about those who don’t deserve to be cursed.
Amr bin Bahr al-Laythi (d. 255 H) deemed Yazeed to be an accursed
One of the early Sunni scholars Amr bin Bahr al-Laythi (d. 255 H) popularly known as Al-Jahidh stated in his book Al-Risalah al-Hadyia Ashar, page 398:
المنكرات التي اقترفها يزيد من قتل الحسين وحمله بنات رسول الله (ص) سبايا ، وقرعه ثنايا الحسين بالعود ، وإخافته أهل المدينة ، وهدم الكعبة ، تدل على القسوة والغلظة ، والنصب ، وسوء الرأي ، والحقد والبغضاء والنفاق والخروج عن الايمان ، فالفاسق ملعون ، ومن نهى عن شتم الملعون فملعون.
"The evil deed which Yazeed committed by killing Hussain and took the daughters of Allah's messenger as slaves and hit the lips of Hussain's (head) with the stick and scared the people of Madina and destroyed the Ka'aba, shows that he (Yazeed) was rough, stone hearted, Nasibi, possessed bad thoughts, venom, hatred, hypocrite, was out of the pale of faith, Fasiq and an accursed, and who ever forbid cursing the accursed is himself an accursed person."
Ahmad bin Sulayman bin Kamal al-Hanafi (d. 944 H) deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed
Another Hanafi scholar namely Ahmad bin Sulayman bin Kamal al-Hanafi (d. 944 H) deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed. Imam Abdulrauf al-Munawi in his authority work Faidh al-Qadir Sharah Jami al-Saghir, Volume 1 page 204 stated:
ثم قال المولى ابن الكمال والحق أن لعن يزيد على اشتهار كفره وتواتر فظاعته وشره على ما عرف بتفاصيله جائز
"Mawula ibn al-Kamal said: 'The truth that cursing is lawful though its popularly known that he is a kafir and his horribleness and evil deeds are successively narrated in detail'"
Faidh al-Qadir, Volume 1 page 204 Tradition 281
Imam Quwam al-Deen al-Safari deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed
Imam Abdulrauf al-Munawi in his authority work Faidh al-Qadir, Volume 1 page 204 has recorded the views of another Sunni scholar namely Imam Quwam al-Deen al-Safari regarding cursing Yazeed. We read:
قال ابن الكمال وحكى عن الإمام قوام الدين الصفاري ولا بأس بلعن يزيد
Ibn al-Kamal narrated that Imam Quwam al-Deen al-Safari said: 'There is no harm in cursing Yazeed'
Faidh al-Qadir, Volume 1 page 204 Tradition 281
Shaykh Abdulrahman bin Yusuf al-Ajhwari's Takfeer agasint Yazeed
Shaykh Abdullah bin Muhammad al-Shebrawi (d. 1172 H) who the in year 1137 H was the Sheikh at Al-Azhar University recorded the folllowing about Shaykh Abdulrahman bin Yusuf al-Ajhwari al-Maliki (d. 960 H) in his book al-Itehaf Behub al-Ashraf, page 69:
وقال العلاّمة الاَجهوريّ: اختار الاِمام محمـّد بن عرفة والمحقّقون من أتباعه كفر الحجّاج، ولا شكّ أنّ جريمته كجريمة يزيد، بل دونها
Allamah Ajhwari said: 'Imam Muhammad bin Arafa and the scholars who followed him chose to consider Hajaj as kafir and there is no doubt that his (Hajaj's) crime is similar to Yazeed's crime, nay its less'.
Abu al-Barakat al-Demashqi al-Shafiyee (d. 871 H) himself cursed Yazeed
Abu al-Barakat Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Demashqi al-Shafiyee (d. 871 H) was also among those Sunni scholars who personally cursed Yazeed. He stated in his book Jawahir al-Matalib, Volume 2 page 272:
يزيد لعنه الله
"May Allah curse Yazeed"
Nasibi grounds for NOT cursing Yazeed
Continuing on from the above text we read Ibn Katheer tried to explain why some concerned parties opposed cursing Yazeed. This is the bit that Azam Tariq failed to quote and thus took Ibn Katheer's words out of context (yet again):
"Some have opposed cursing Yazeed and written books urging people to refrain from such a practice since by making Yazeed a waseela for cursing, the curse may fall back onto his father and other Sahaba".
By this reasoning, Ibn Katheer has in effect placed the ropes into the hands of his Nasibi brethren; the only reason that Yazeed should not be cursed is because by doing so his dear old father might also be at risk of being cursed. If Mu'awiya or the other Sahaba did nothing wrong, then what on earth is there to worry about?
One should applaud Imam Abu Ya'ala and his son who sided with the truth. It is also interesting that Ibn Kathir, whose work is quoted by Azam Tariq, actually does nothing to exonerate Yazeed.
General Sunni view on cursing Yazeed
We read in Sharh Aqaid Nafsiyah (with Nabras), page 553:
"Some Ulema and Imams have declared it permissible to curse Yazeed, because by ordering the killing of Husayn he committed kufr".
This text as well as the text from Sharah Fiqh Akbar that we cited above have also been quoted by the Mufti of Daarul Uloom Qadriyah Jilaniyah London namely Mufti Ghulam Rasool in:
Hasab wa Nasab, Volume 2 pages 89-90 (published in London)
Ibn Hajar Asqalani's views regarding those that praise Yazeed
The statement by one of the most esteemed Sunni Imams Ibn Hajar Asqalani regarding the one who praises Yazeed is quite serious, yet we find Nawasib like those of Ansar.org, Sipah-e-Sahabah (hcy.com) and some self proclaimed scholars like that of Dr. Zakir Naik trying to absolve Yazeed [la] and making an attempt to praise him. Imam Ibn Hajar Asqalani records:
وأما المحبة فيه والرفع من شأنه فلا تقع إلا من مبتدع فاسد الاعتقاد فإنه كان فيه من الصفات ما يقتضي سلب الإيمان عمن يحبه لأن الحب في الله والبغض في الله من الإيمان والله المستعان
'Loving and glorifying him is not done except by a heretic who has void belief because he (Yazeed) had such characteristics that his lover deserves to be faithless, because to love and hate just in the sake of God is the sign of faith'
Al-Emta bil al-Arbaeen, page 96
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Original article by Kr-hcy.com
Al Bidayah Wal Nihayah (Urdu), Vol 8 Page 1147, Nafees Academy Karachi
Tafseer Ruh al-Ma'ani, Volume 26 page 227
Tafsir Mazhari (Urdu), volume 10 page 326 (Published by Darul Isha'at Karachi) 
Sawaiq al-Muhriqa (Urdu), pages 733-734
Tafseer Ruh al-Ma'ani, Volume 26 pages 228-229
Tafseer Mazhari [Arabic], Volume 5 page 271, commentary of 14:29
Tafseer Mazhari [Urdu], Volume 6 pages 202-203, commentary of 14:29
Imam Paak aur Yazeed Paleed, page 104 (Zia ul Quran publications, Lahore) 
Tareekh ul Khulafa (Urdu) page 208, published by Nafees Academy Karachi
Imam Paak aur Yazeed Paleed, page 93 (Zia ul Quran publications, Lahore) 
Al Bidayah Wal Nihayah (Urdu), Vol 8 Page 1148, Nafees Academy Karachi
Al-Rad ala al-Mutaseb al-Aneed Al-Manee men Zam Yazeed (published in Beruit)