Beware of Anger!

by Ash-Sheikh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaymeen -may Allah rest him in Jannah Al- Firdaus- 

 

.....Oh Muslims: It has been authenticated on the Messenger of Allah -sallahu 'alayhi wasallam- that a man said to him: Advise me oh Messenger of Allah! He -sallahu 'alayhi wasallam- said: Don't become angry and he repeated it several times (three to be exact) he said: Don't become angry.* Anger is fury that Shaytaan casts in the heart of the son of Aadam. So this is why the veins become enlarged and he becomes red and his eyes become bulky and his hair ruffled. All of that is from anger that Shaytaan flings in the hearts until it is as though his blood is boiling (from rage). 

 

Oh Muslims! If a person becomes angry it is appropiate for him to perform those actions that will prevent and extinguish it (from the likes of): Performing wudu' and if he's standing he should sit, and if sitting then lie down, and if he's in one place he should move to another so his anger can subside as this is reported on the Messenger -sallahu 'alayhi wasallam- by way of statements and approvals. 

And sadly: There are those from the people who if they become angry with the slightest amount of anger they divorce their wives and perhaps  complete the divorce, then goes to one of the Scholars and seeks a fatwa. So he asks a 'Aalim (Scholar) after he 'Aalam (already knows). Thus, when he's given a verdict that doesn't coincide with his desires he goes to a different scholar (TN: may Allah rectify our affairs). And this is how he pursues the authorizations of the Scholars because of what he incured upon him ownself. 

So that which is necessary for the intellectual person is that he controls himself at the time when anger arises from him just as the Prophet -sallahu 'alayhi wasallam- instructed to do when He said: The strong person isn't the one who overpowers everyone, rather the strong person is the one who controls himself at the time of anger.** This hadeeth means: A person is not considered strong (in reality) if he always defeats and triumphs over the people when he wrestles them, rather the strong person is the one who wrestles himself and dominates it when he becomes angry and he doesn't speak or say anything that he will dislike after it (abates). 

Therefore the matter is very crucial regarding this affair of those Angry individuals who divorce their women (because they themselves got angry) and (then) carry out the divorce. It is binding upon them that they take hold of themselves and be from amongst the strong and powerful persons so that their souls can be at ease. If a person gets accustomed to controlling himself when he becomes angry and his strength overcomes it, then that will become natural for him and he won't become (outrageously) angry. However when he does get angry he doesn't carry it out and act upon it. 

So have taqwa of Allah oh Slaves of Allah! And adorn yourselves with excellent mannersims and keep away from repugnant characteristics. 

Faaidah: Ash-Sheikh Saalih Al-Fouzaan -may Allah preserve him- mentions in his explanation of the hadeeth: The strong person isn't the one who overpowers the people...... he says: There are two types of anger: 

First: If the anger is for (because of) Allah 'azza wa jall and His sanctity then this is praiseworthy anger, (for a person) to get angry for Allah 'azza wa jall if His sanctity has been violated. The Prophet -sallahu 'alayhi wasallam- used to get angry if the sanctities of Allah were infringed. 

Second: The type of anger that causes a person to want revenge from the people who did him wrongly. Allah has permitted for the one who has been wronged to retaliate due to His statement: (And the reward for an evil is a evil the like thereof) 42:40. However He encouraged with having forgiveness and pardoning. And that a person should supress his anger and excuse.

Allah the Most High says: (So whoever pardons and reconciles then his reward is upon Allah)42:40. And He the Glorified says: (A good and evil can not be equal, repel with that which is better. Then verily! the one who there was between you and him some enmity will become as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (this quality) except those who are patient and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of happiness in the Herafter and in this world)41:34,35. 

So if someone becomes angry with another for something other than the sanctities of Allah 'azza wa jall then it is proper that he pardons him and controls himself from retaliating against him. Because Allah says: (And those who supress their anger and those who pardon the people....)3:134. This is good mention of those who pardon others and supress their anger and fury and conceal it. [Reference: Sheikh Saalih Fouzaan's explantion of Buloogh Al-Maraam] 

Footnotes:*Bukhaari (6116) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah.**Bukhaari (6113) and Muslim (2609) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah.