Overcoming Anger

Anger is an extreme emotion that makes a person’s blood swell, darkens the eyes, and corrupts thinking. At the same time, it is a means of testing for humans. The believers who can control their nafs and contain their anger are praised by Allāh Ta‘ālā and Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

It is stated in Sūrah Shurā āyah 37:

“Those believers avoid the major sins and shameful acts. And when they are angry, they forgive.”

As we can see from the āyah al-karīmah, believers who control their egos when angered and do not feel vengeance are perfect mu’mins.

Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said in one hadīth al-sharīf:

“When you become angry, stay silent.”

The moment of anger is one of the times when the nafs and shayṭān work the hardest. They try with all their strength to make the person do all kinds of evil.

Hadrat Abul Fārūq Silistrawī said:

“The only thing that prevents a person from goodness and guidance is their nafs. It has the strength of 72 shayṭāns and is dispersed throughout the body. It’s centre is between the two eyebrows. Man sometimes becomes angry and says ‘I will do it! I will break it!’ They rebel against their parents. These are all products of the nafs.”

In order to be protected from the harms of anger; Even if we are insulted or exposed to injustice, we should not act out of anger and let go of the chains of the nafs, and thus throw ourselves into the fires of Jahannam.

Anger, which is sometimes necessary in important matters such as Islamic devotion, defence of our homelands and honour, when used appropriately and in moderation it makes a person a hero. Likewise, containing it when not needed also makes a person a hero.

Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) taught us who the true hero is by saying:

“A strong person is not the one who beats everyone in wrestling, but the one who has control over themselves in anger.” 

It is also useful to consider where the out-of-control anger can lead a person.

Anger can break the obligatory family bonds, that is the bond that should exist between relatives. It even makes people hostile with parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and children.

Words that are said in a moment of anger, can also cause someone to lose their Īmān. Unfortunately, those who in a moment of anger curse Allāh, Rasūlullāh, the Qur’ān, Islam and Īmān and other things holy in Islam, will leave the circle of Islam.

A person who divorces (talaq) his wife in a moment of anger to frighten her, will be religiously divorced from her. Anger is not an excuse in these matters, nor is it a joking matter.

When what the munāfiqs spoke against Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was revealed to him via wahy in the Tabuk expedition, Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) summoned them and asked them why they were speaking as such. They replied:

“Yā Rasūlullāh, we did not say it seriously, but were joking amongst ourselves.”

Thereupon, Allāh Ta‘ālā revealed āyah 65 and 66 from Sūrah Tawbah:

“If you question them, they will surely say ‘We were only conversing and playing.’ Say “Was it Allāh, His āyahs and His prophets that you ridiculed?’ Make no excuse, because you have disbelieved after your belief.”

Therefore, we must think carefully of who we should take as a guide. Are we to follow the nafs and shayṭānor take the path shown by āyahs and hadīths?