Assalamulaikum The hadith is saheeh. It is confirmed. It happened. However, this is what happens when we take Hadiths on their own with no understanding. I am not a scholar/sheikh/alim but if you just look at Sahih Muslim Volume 4 there is a whole chapter on this issue where if the Prophet Muhammad cursed someone and they did not deserve it, it will serve as reward for them on the Day of Judgement! We have to stop taking hadiths and incidents of the Propehts' life and saying "oh, that can't be the case". If it is confirmed, we should accept it. And, we should try and wrap our warped, convoluted, and brain-washed minds into accepting the incident and not the other way around. This is not a personal attack just a general statement. May Allah forgive me if I have said anything wrong Walaikum salaam