What is the meaning of al-dahr in the hadith "Do not curse al-dahr"?
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Question:
The qudsi hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 2246e, or as it was reported, what is meant by al-dahr? Is it the passage of time? And if so, is it permissible for us to say: "My prayer and my sacrifice are for al-dahr," considering that al-dahr is Allah, based on this hadith?
Answer:
Al-dahr is time, and the meaning of is that al-dahr has no control; the One who controls al-dahr is Allah alone. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 2246e meaning: He is the One who controls it, (Glorified and Exalted is He).
And al-dahr is time. In the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, they used to say: "Nothing destroys us except al-dahr." So Allah refuted that for them. Al-dahr is time; it is not to be cursed, because cursing it is cursing what does not deserve to be cursed. It has no control; the One who controls is Allah alone. He is the One who alternates night and day, sends down what He sends down, and decrees what He decrees .
Therefore, in the authentic hadith, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:Sahih Muslim 2246b. So the meaning of "He is al-dahr" is: He alternates its night and day, and He manages the affairs of this al-dahr among the servants. So al-dahr is not to be cursed, because cursing al-dahr means cursing the One who manages its affairs .
So it is not permissible for a Muslim to curse al-dahr. Rather, he should strive against his self in obeying Allah and His Messenger, and leaving what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Whatever harm befalls him is due to the causes of his bad deeds, not due to the causes of al-dahr. Al-dahr has no control. But describing it as severe does no harm. One may say: "This is a severe time," or "This is a hot or cold time." This does no harm. But cursing—such as cursing it, or saying: "May Allah curse this hour," or "this day," or "this time," or "May Allah not bless this hour," or "May Allah fight this hour," or similar cursing; this is what is forbidden. As for saying: "This time is severe," or "hot," or "cold," or describing it as severe; that does no harm.
The qudsi hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not curse Time, for it is Allah Who is Time.
لا تسبُّوا الدهر، فإنَّ الله هو الدهرAnswer:
Al-dahr is time, and the meaning of
Do not curse time.
لا تسبُّوا الدهرDo not curse Time, for it is Allah Who is Time
لا تسبُّوا الدهر، فإنَّ الله هو الدهر، يُقلِّب ليلَه ونهارَهAnd al-dahr is time. In the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, they used to say: "Nothing destroys us except al-dahr." So Allah refuted that for them. Al-dahr is time; it is not to be cursed, because cursing it is cursing what does not deserve to be cursed. It has no control; the One who controls is Allah alone. He is the One who alternates night and day, sends down what He sends down, and decrees what He decrees .
Therefore, in the authentic hadith, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
The son of Adam displeases Me by abusing Dahr (time), whereas I am Dahr--I alternate the night and the day.
يُؤذيني ابن آدم؛ يسبُّ الدهر، وأنا الدهر، أُقلِّب الليل والنَّهارSo it is not permissible for a Muslim to curse al-dahr. Rather, he should strive against his self in obeying Allah and His Messenger, and leaving what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Whatever harm befalls him is due to the causes of his bad deeds, not due to the causes of al-dahr. Al-dahr has no control. But describing it as severe does no harm. One may say: "This is a severe time," or "This is a hot or cold time." This does no harm. But cursing—such as cursing it, or saying: "May Allah curse this hour," or "this day," or "this time," or "May Allah not bless this hour," or "May Allah fight this hour," or similar cursing; this is what is forbidden. As for saying: "This time is severe," or "hot," or "cold," or describing it as severe; that does no harm.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.