reznwerks said:
In Muslim countries if you did such a thing you would probably be severly punished hence the deterrant to swearing.
Wrong.
Muslims can and do swear and curse.
Christians and cursing
bless those who curse you
[Jesus said: ] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:14)
do not curse rulers
Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. (Exodus 22:28)
do not curse the deaf
"`Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD (Leviticus 19:14)
However, the Quran and Muhammad thought differently
invoke curse of Allah upon those who lie while disputing about Allah, Âl 'Imran 3:61.
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This verse explains why Muslims will call upon the non-Muslim to put themselves under a curse when debating with non-Muslims. The Christian, however, cannot oblige because this contradicts the teachings of Jesus in the Bible, where one is not to curse, but to let your "yes" be "yes" and let your "no" be "no". This is consistent with the teaching in The Ten Commandments where we are not to misuse God's name (or not to take the name of the Lord in vain).
The article
Mubahala: When Muslims challenge Christians to a curse contest examines the issue in greater detail.
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Muhammad cursed some people. Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud:
The Prophet faced the Ka'ba and invoked evil on some people of Quraish, on Shaiba bin Rabi'a, 'Utba bin Rabi'a, Al-Walid bin 'Utba and Abu Jahl bin Hisham. I bear witness, by Allah, that I saw them all dead, putrefied by the sun as that day was a very hot day. (Sahih Bukhari 5.297)
Muhammad spent 30 or 40 days cursing a few tribes. For thirty days Allah's Apostle invoked Allah to curse those who had killed the companions of Bir-Mauna; he invoked evil upon the tribes of Ral, Dhakwan, and Usaiya who disobeyed Allah and His Apostle. There was reveled about those who were killed at Bir-Mauna a Quranic Verse we used to recite, but it was cancelled later on. The Verse was: "Inform our people that we have met our Lord. He is pleased with us and He has made us pleased."
Sahih Bukhari 4.69
see also Sahih Bukhari 1.241.
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Source:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Index/C/curses.html