Anger management through Islamic teachings

A temptation of Shaytan ANGER A temptation of Shaytan A root of evils A spark of fire A condition that weakens Iman A feeling of displeasure, annoyance and hostility

Ali Imran 3:134 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

Ash-Shūraá 42:30 And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much

Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah's  Messenger Muhammad ( SAW ) Said:  “The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength” "But the strong is the one who controls him while in anger."

“ Do not become angry and furious” Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated, a man said to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) “Advise me”. The Prophet Muhammad ( saw ) said : " Do not become angry  “ The man asked the same question again and again and the Prophet Muhammad ( saw ) replied each time by saying:  “ Do not become angry and furious”

Hadrat Anas: (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the messenger of Allah Muhammad( saw )  said:  Who so takes up his tongue as treasure Allah will keep his secrets concealed  and who so restrains his anger Allah will with hold his punishment on the resurrection day and who so ascribes excuse to Allah will accept his excuse.

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5145, Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, transmitted by Tirmidhi ...It is said that he (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) mentioned anger, saying, "Some are swift to anger and swift to cool down, the one characteristic making up for the other; some are slow to anger and slow to cool down, the one characteristic making up for the other; but the best of you are those who are slow to anger and swift to cool down, and the worst of you are those who are swift to anger and slow to cool down." He continued, "Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendant of Adam. Do you not notice the swelling of the veins of his neck and the redness of his eyes? So when anyone experiences anything of that nature he should lie down and cleave to the earth."

Things to do when we are angry 1. Seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan Sulayman ibn Sard said: "I was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and two men were slandering one another. One of them was red in the face, and the veins on his neck were standing out. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, `I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away. If he said "I seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan," what he feels (i.e., his anger) would go away.'" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 6/337)

Surat Fussilat (41:34) Fussilat 41:34 And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend. 41:36 And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allah . Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

2. Keeping silent The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent." (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, al-Musnad, 1/329; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 693, 4027). This is because in most cases, the angry person loses self control and could utter words of kufr (from which we seek refuge with Allaah), or curses, or the word of divorce (talaaq) which would destroy his home, or words of slander which would bring him the enmity and hatred of others. So, in short, keeping silent is the solution which helps one to avoid all that.

3. Not moving The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so his anger will go away; if it does not go away, let him lie down." The narrator of this hadeeth is Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him), and there is a story connected to his telling of it: he was taking his camels to drink at a trough that he owned, when some 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. Abu Dharr was standing, so he sat down, then he layed down. Someone asked him, "O Abu Dharr, why did you sit down then lie down?" He said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: . . ." and quoted the hadeeth. (The hadeeth and this story may be found in Musnad Ahmad, 5/152; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', no. 694).

4. Remebering the advice of the Prophet (pbuh)

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, Narrated Atiyyah as-Sa'di, r.a. Making Wudhu Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, Narrated Atiyyah as-Sa'di, r.a. AbuWa'il al-Qass said: We entered upon Urwah ibn Muhammad ibn as-Sa'di. A man spoke to him and made him angry. So he stood and performed ablution; he then returned and performed ablution, and said: My father told me on the authority of my grandfather Atiyyah who reported the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) as saying: Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire is extinguished only with water; so when one of you becomes angry, he should perform ablution.

Do not become angry and Paradise will be yours (a saheeh hadeeth, see Saheeh al-Jaami', 7374. Ibn Hijr attributed it to al-Tabaraani, see al-Fath 4/465): Remembering what Allaah has promised to the righteous (muttaqeen) who keep away from the causes of anger and struggle within themselves to control it, is one of the most effective ways of extinguishing the flames of anger Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Resurrection." (Reported by al-Tabaraani, 12/453, see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 6518). "Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will call him before all of mankind on the Day of Resurrection, and will let him choose of the Hur al-'Iyn whoever he wants." (Reported by Abu Dawud, 4777, and others. It is classified as hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami, 6518).

Prophet `Isa (Jesus Christ) -peace be upon him- was once asked: "What thing is difficult?" He said: "God's wrath." Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) -peace be upon him- then asked: "What brings near the wrath of God?" He said: "Anger". Yahya - peace be upon him- asked him: "What thing grows and increases anger?" Isa -peace be upon him- said: "Pride, prestige, hope for honour and haughtiness

Ali (ra) once was fighting against a disbeliever and had the intention of killing him due to hatred for the sake of Allah. After `Ali (ra) subdued him and sat on his chest with the intention of killing him, the man spat on his face. `Ali (ra) at once let him go. The man was amazed and said, "You should have become even more angry due to my spitting at you and should have hastened in killing me. Why did you spare me?" `Ali (ra) replied, "Due to this action of yours my nafs became involved and my intention did not remain purely for the sake of Allah."

Medicines recommended by Imam Al-Ghazzalî Think of the reward Fear the punishment of Allah The fear that the enemy will take revenge upon you in this world and the next Think about the ugly face of angry man (a ferocious beast) Devil will advise by saying you will be weak if you don’t get angry, but don’t listen to him Think that “what reason do I have to kill him what Allah (swa) wishes has occured

Keep a happy face always