Anger Management in the Light of Quran and Sunnah
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Anger Management in the Light of Quran and Sunnah

Controlling anger is a sign of righteousness. A righteous person is promised paradise. So let us restrain our anger and not utter anything which cannot be taken back

Post by on Monday, January 31, 2022

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What is anger?

Anger is a psychological state that results from inner agitation and desire for revenge. And when this agitation becomes violent, it intensifies the fire of anger. A violent commotion engulfs one’s brain on account of which the mind and intellect lose control and become powerless. It is for this reason that such a person becomes blind and deaf to etiquette and guidance. Anger is a weakness but people think of it as strength. In fact, it’s a spark that set you on fire and then you burn others. So, that fire not only hurts you, but hurts others as well.

 

The devastating effects of anger

Although anger is a natural feeling, it has negative effects on those who allow it to control them. It affects one’s mental health leading to anxiety, depression, guilt, frustration and isolation. Not only mental health, it has a great impact on person’s physical health as well, which includes headaches, eye strains, upset stomach, and heart problems etc. Moreover it affects family and society as a whole. When a person becomes angry and he acts upon it, he intensifies hatred among himself and people around him, as a result people cut off ties with him. Worst can lead to killing and bloodshed. Above all, that person displeases Allah and chooses to walk away from the right path, for which he face consequences until he seeks forgiveness and mercy of Allah.

 

Anger management in the light of Quran

As humans we go through many emotions that we feel unable to control. Anger is one of them and the strongest one too. Fortunately, for us, Allah (SWT) has told us in the Quran how to deal with it. That is why Quran as a source of information that will help us lead an Islamic life, is so very important. Allah (SWT) has advised us to repress our anger in all situations, no matter how testing they are. He has mentioned this specifically in the Quran when He says:

 

Who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good; [Quran 3:134]

What great achievement can we have than the love of Allah and as they say, being in His good books. Repressing anger kills the situation that can get ugly very soon and that is why Allah has prescribed it for us. Allah (SWT) has mentioned repressing anger and forgiving again and again in the Holy Quran by giving examples of His prophets as well. Allah says in Quran:

(Prophet Ibrahim’s (PBUH) father said to him)

He threatened, “How dare you reject my idols, O Abraham! If you do not desist, I will certainly stone you ?to death?. So be gone from me for a long time!” Abraham responded, “Peace be upon you! I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness. He has truly been Most Gracious to me.” [Quran 19:46-47]

 

As always if a person is unsure about how to act in any situation, he needs only to consult Holy Quran and seek Allah’s guidance and look to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) or our righteous predecessors to find the best way to act.

Another such incident about controlling anger is mentioned in the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when a man came to him with the killer of his relative.

Anas bin Malik said:

A man brought the killer of his relative to the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘Pardon him,’ but he refused. He said: ‘Take the blood money,’ but he refused. He said: ‘Go and kill him, but then you will be like him.’ Someone caught up with him and reminded him that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) had said: ‘Go and kill him, but then you will be like him.’ So he let him go. [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Other places, anger management has been mentioned in the Quran, and along with it is also mentioned how much a person who controls his anger is loved by Allah. It is said:

Whatever ?pleasure? you have been given is ?no more than a fleeting? enjoyment of this worldly life. But what is with Allah is far better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord; And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive.. [Quran 42:36-37]

Controlling anger is a sign of righteousness. A righteous person is promised paradise. So let us restrain our anger and not utter anything which cannot be taken back. It is said:

…Pardon and bear with them until Allah delivers His decision… [Quran 2:109]

Surely the one who controls his anger pleases Allah (SWT) and keeps the characteristics of the righteous believer.

Anger management in the light of Hadith and Sunnah

Anger is one of the evil whispers of shaitan which leads to many evils, of which Allah (SWT) knows their full extent. For this, Islam has a great deal to say about this bad characteristic and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) described cures for this disease and ways to limit its effects among which are following:

 

Seeking refuge with Allah (SWT) from the shaitan

Mu`adh bin Jabal narrated that one of the two men cursed the other next to the Prophet (SAW), until anger could be recognized in the face of one of them. So the Prophet (SAW) said: “Verily, I know a statement, that if he were to say it, his anger would leave: ‘I seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan, the rejected (A`udhu billahi minash-shai?anir-rajim).’”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3452]

Keeping Silent

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.” [Reported by Imam Ahmed, Al musnad. See also saheeh Al-jaami, 693, 4027]

 

This is because angry person loses self-control and could utter words of disbelief or curses, or the words of divorce which would destroy his home or the words of slander which would bring him the enmity and hatred of others. So, keeping silent is the solution which helps to avoid ugly situations.

Not moving

Narrated Abu Dharr: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to us: When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down. [Abu Dawud]

 

The narrator of this hadith is Abu Dharr and there is a story connected to his telling of it. He was taking camels to drink at a trough that he owned, when other people came along and said (to one another) ‘who can compete with Abu Dharr (in bringing animals to drink) and make his hair stand on end?’ A man said: ‘I can’ so he brought his animals and competed with Abu Dharr, with the result that the trough was broken (i.e. Abu Dharr was expecting help in watering his camels) but instead, the man misbehaved and caused the trough to be broken. Abu Dharr was standing so he sat down. Then laid down. Someone asked him: ‘O Abu Dharr, why did you sit and lie down?’ He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah said…(repeated the Hadith)

(To be continued….)

 

(The Author is a writer and contributes for backtojannah.com) 

 

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