What is the ruling on saying "mazbalat al-tareekh" (dumpster of history), and is this considered slandering time, and is it better to say "mazbalat al-bashariyyah" (dumpster of humanity) instead?
The Hadith: (The son of Adam harms Me; he curses time, and I am time; in My hand is the command, I alternate night and day) indicates the prohibition of cursing time. It has two interpretations: The first: that cursing time is cursing Allah Almighty, because it is cursing the One who ordained and created events. The second: that time (Ad-Dahr) is one of Allah Almighty's names, and its meaning is the Ancient, the Eternal.
The phrase "dustbin of history" does not fall under the prohibition of cursing time, because its intent is to curse a specific person or group due to their evil deeds, and that history will not remember them kindly, and they will be placed in the worst possible position. This is a figurative expression and a metaphor for criticizing the person or group.
However, this phrase should only be used for those who deserve it among the disbelievers, tyrants, and oppressors.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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