The Ruling on One Who Died in Disbelief and Cursing a Specific Disbeliever

Question:
Honorable Shaykh! If we know that someone has died in disbelief, do we rule that he is in the Fire? Do we say that he is among the people of the Fire? And is it permissible to curse a specific disbeliever?

Answer:
The scholars have established this in matters of creed. They say that we do not rule that anyone is in Paradise or in the Fire, except for the specific individuals about whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has ruled. We say that disbelievers are in the Fire, yes, and that polytheists are in the Fire. As for specific individuals, we do not assert it; we do not know how their end was, we do not know what their final state was. So we do not rule that a specific person is among the people of Paradise, or that a specific person is among the people of the Fire, except with evidence from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. However, we hope for the good-doer and we fear for the wrongdoer. This is the methodology of the Salaf, the methodology of the people of knowledge in this issue. As for the issue of cursing a specific person, there is disagreement among the scholars. Whoever Allah and His Messenger have cursed is a specific person who is cursed, whether named or not. And whoever Allah and His Messenger have not cursed, that is a matter of disagreement without a doubt. It is safer to avoid cursing a specific person whose cursing is not mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah.