"Tabbat Yada Abi Lahab" — Why Is This Not a Curse?

Question

In Surah al-Lahab, Allah Most High cursed Abu Lahab. But one only "curses" when unable to punish [the offender] directly — as when people say "May your ship sink," "May you perish," and the like. Since Allah is able to punish, why was it necessary for Him to curse instead of simply punishing? Please give a written answer.

Answer

When the verse was revealed down to: [ar]وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ ٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ[/ar] "And warn your nearest kin" (Surah al-Shu’ara, 26:214), the noble Prophet ﷺ climbed Mount Safa and called everyone together. His relatives gathered; he first obtained their acknowledgment of his truthfulness, and then warned them of the punishment of Allah.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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