In the Quran, 5:78 refers to the prophets scolding the stiff necked Israelites, the sinful ones among them. Psalm137 is a prayer of destruction against Babylonians and their infants. Here the psalmist calls for God to allow and bless those who would kill their enemies' infants. It is different than innocents dying as collateral casualties of divine cataclysms befalling a nation of rejecters. In the first case God goes after the innocent while in the second case, innocents die in consequence to the behavior of others.
Background to 5:78 is the well known history of Jews rejecting the prophets. No matter the miracles God performed, they still never truly believed. They could hardly cleanse themselves from their inclination for idolatry as seen in Joshua's address to them as reported in the Hebrew Bible, long after Moses' death Joshua24. Jeremiah later confirmed this fact Jer2:8,7:18 and history proves their constant straying from monotheism, almost complete disregard for their covenant and scriptures, which started very early on and apparently continued up to the times of Hosea, long after Moses Hos8:5,10:5.
This is where the Quran in 5:78 echoes their scolding by their prophets, from Moses to David Ps78 down to Jesus Matt12,23.
As to cursing, in the Quran the concept of nearness to Allah implies honoring, satisfaction and reward as often stated in the Quran. It is used in different contexts, as in the magicians whom Pharaoh promised to honor by drawing them near to him 26:42, to the believers who are urged to seek the means to obtain Allah's nearness 5:35. Nearness to Allah in the Hereafter is presented as the foremost reward of the foremost in faith, far surpassing everything that heaven may offer of delights 56:10-11,88,54:55,83:28 the Prophet Jesus is likewise made near to Allah 3:45, as the angels near to Allah executing His commands 4:172. Those honored individuals will experience realities of the unseen that are restricted to others 83:21. Further, those nearest to God
21:19"are never too proud to worship Him and never grow weary".
Contrary to worldly ownership and mastership, the closer a servant is to his master the more benefits he gains in terms of power, material gains and personal freedom. But as regards to God's ownership which is the true and absolute one, the closer the servant is drawn to Him the more humbled and submissive the servant becomes, aware of his insignificance in relation to the Supreme Being. That is how complete and intricate the Quran is, in its argumentations for perfect monotheism.
In contrast, Hell is described as the place of those whom Allah has "laan". Often rendered "curse", the Arabic denotes remoteness from God 3:87. Hell is the necessary result of separation from God. God is the source of all goodness, separation from Him necessarily results in a situation devoid of all goodness. And Hell is the climax of the absence of all good. The punishment of the disbelievers the day they are raised is described as the alienation from God's mercy
23:66,83:15,20:126,11:99"And they are overtaken by curse/laana in this (world), and on the resurrection day, evil the gift which shall be given".
All those who attribute a lie to Allah incur His curse/laanat (distancing or being forsaken) 11:18, as well as those who die as disbelievers 2:161, those who commit great sins like murder 4:93, hypocrites 9:68, ungratefulness 15:17 or slander 24:23.
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