I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: The son of Adam abuses Dahr (the time), whereas I am Dahr since in My hand are the day and the night.
Hadith Text & Context
"I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: The son of Adam abuses Dahr (the time), whereas I am Dahr since in My hand are the day and the night."
Reference: Sahih Muslim 2246a | Book: The Book Concerning the Use of Correct Words
Meaning of "Dahr"
Dahr refers to time, age, or eternity. People often curse time when afflicted by calamities, saying "time has wronged us" or "what an evil time."
Allah clarifies that He is the true controller of time, as He created it and manages all affairs within it. Attributing evil to time indirectly attributes it to Allah.
Theological Significance
This hadith establishes the principle of proper attribution: all events ultimately occur by Allah's will and decree.
Cursing time constitutes shirk al-asghar (minor shirk) as it attributes control to other than Allah. True believers attribute all matters to their Creator.
Practical Implications
Muslims must avoid phrases cursing time or fate. Instead, they should say "Allah decreed" or seek refuge in Allah from evil.
This teaching cultivates proper tawhid (monotheism) and protects from subtle forms of shirk that corrupt faith.
Scholarly Commentary
Ibn Taymiyyah explained: "Since Allah is the creator and controller of time, cursing it is like cursing Him."
Al-Nawawi stated: "This hadith contains a severe prohibition against cursing time, for it is Allah who orchestrates all events."