Anger Management

Allah (Subhana wa ta'ala; Glorified is He and exalted) mentions the ones that He loves in the Qur’an as those… “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.” [Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:134]

Abu Hurayrah, (radiAllahu’anhu; may Allah be pleased with him), reported that a man said to the Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him), "Advise me." He said, "Do not become angry." The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him) told him, "Do not become angry." [Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath al-Bari, 10/456]

Anas (radiAllahu’anhu; may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him) passed by some people who were wrestling. He asked, "What is this?" They said: "So-and-so is the strongest, he can beat anybody." The Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him) said, "Shall I not tell you who is even stronger than him? The man who, when he is mistreated by another, controls his anger, has defeated his own shaytaan (satan) and the shaytaan of the one who made him angry." [Reported by al-Bazzaar, and Ibn Hijr said its isnaad is saheeh. Al-Fath, 10/519]

Anger is one of the evil whispers of Shaytaan, which leads to so many evils and tragedies, and only Allah knows their full extent. How many people are imprisoned at this moment because of a moment of anger, how many divorces have taken place because of a moment of anger where a person could not control themselves, how many family disputes have taken place, likewise how many marriages have been kept together because both husband and wife were able to suppress their anger, how many people are walking free and unharmed because they managed their anger. For this reason Islam has a great deal to say about this bad characteristic, and the Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him) described cures for this "disease" and ways to limit its effects, among which are the following:

Seek Refuge in Allah

Sit down or then lie down

Perform wudhu

Remain silent (Ahmad)

We ask Allah to save us from the challenges which may cause anger, and in the event that we are faced with such tests may He allow us to remain patient and seek solace in the methods recommended above by the Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him).