How does a man curse his Parents?

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “It is one of the greatest sins that a man should curse his parents.” It was asked (by the people), “O Allah’s Messenger! How does a man curse his parents?” The Messenger (pbuh) said, “The man abuses the father of another man and the latter abuses the father of the former and abuses his mother.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Commentary:

This Hadith establishes a great principle in Islam which is to block off paths which lead to harm and greater sin. This Hadith also shows us that cursing and abusing ones parents is considered a major sin in Islam and is considered to be from the greatest of major sins as mentioned in the narration of Imam Al-Bukhari. It also shows that it is possible for a person to curse or abuse his own parents even if he doesn’t directly do so whereby if a person curses the parents of another person, then in return that person curses his parents, it is as though he cursed his own parents because it was due to his own action that he caused the other person to curse his parents.

Another example which sets a similar principle is the saying of Allah (interpretation of the meaning): And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do. [Al-An'am 6:108]

The Hadith is also evidence that the major sins differ in levels whereby some are greater than others just as mentioned in the narration of Imam Al-Bukhari where he states “From the greatest of major sins”. So this shows that some major sins are greater than others.

This Hadith also shows us how great the rights of the parents in Islam are.

And Allah knows best!