What happens when one is angry? One’s blood pressure shoots up as a result the veins distend, the face becomes red, the body starts shaking and eventually the difference between right and wrong is lost. It’s just like a volcanic eruption. The lava that comes out destroys everything nearby.
Did you know that anger is like burning coal placed in ones heart by Satan? It keeps on burning and once it reaches its threshold it bursts indicating the preceding signs.
One may think that it would have been better if we would have not been given the emotion of anger. But don’t you think it would be a little sad to live a life without passion and feeling? As we all
know, every action has a reaction. So when something goes against ones nature it’s obvious to feel angry. The real question is, what is the permissible level of anger allowed by Allah SWT and how can one regulate it towards good?
Anger has three degrees. The lowest in which a person remains as cold as ice and the highest in which one becomes as furious as a raging bull. And in between both of them is the moderate level – the permissible one.
Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) never expressed his anger except that his face and cheeks would become red. As comes in the following hadith, narrated by Abu Masood, “A man came and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! By Allah, I keep away from the Fajr prayer only because so and so prolongs the prayer when he leads us in it.’ The narrator said, ‘I never saw Allah’s Apostle more furious in giving advice than he was at that time. He then said, ‘Some of you make people dislike good deeds
(the prayer). So whoever among you leads the people in prayer should shorten it because among them are the weak, the old and the needy.’” [Bukhari]
Anger can only be expressed in the circumstance that Allah’s deen or shariah is compromised, and that too in a way that is moderate and reflective of sunnah. it is haraam to get angry for one’s own personal reasons or nafs or to express anger which is a source of harm to others or causes any kind of destruction.
Following certain techniques can help avoid sudden and immense outbursts, which are as follows.
1. Changing your posture. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “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.”
2. Performing Ablution, Prophet (PBUH) said, “Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created from fire, and fire is extinguished only with water. So when one of you becomes angry, he should make Wudu (ablution).”
3. Seeking refuge in Allah, Prophet (PBUH) said, “I know a word, the saying of which will cause him to relax, if he does say it. If he says: ‘I seek Refuge with Allah from Satan’ then all his anger will go
away.”
4. Moreover, remain silent and avoid taking hasty decision. Also, instead of letting anger build up inside, talk it out.
Ayesha (RAA) reported that Prophet (PBUH) entered (my apartment) and I had hung a thin curtain having pictures on it. The colour of his face underwent a change. He then took hold of that curtain and tore it and then said: “The most grievous torment for the people on the Day of Resurrection would be for those who try to imitate Allah in the act of creation.” What a gentle way of showing anger and then giving the reason behind the unexpected action.
Similarly, never take out your anger on illiterate people as narrated by Anas Ibn Malik (RA), “Whilst we were in the Mosque with the Prophet (PBUH), a Bedouin came and stood urinating in the Mosque. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, ‘Stop it! Stop it!’ and were about to attack him. But the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, ‘Do not interrupt him; leave him alone.’ So they left him until he had finished urinating, then the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) called him and
said to him, ‘In these Mosques it is not right to do anything like urinating or defecating; they are only for remembering Allah, praying and reading Quran,’ or words to that effect. Then he commanded a man who was there to bring a bucket of water and throw it over the (urine), and he did so.” The Prophet (PBUH) dealt with him kindly and did not show even a bit of anger on such an unethical behaviour.
Last but not the least we all should try our best to control our anger as comes in a hadith that the strong man is not one who wrestles well but the strong man is one who controls himself when he is in a fit of rage.
MAY ALLAH HELP US IN CONTROLLING OUR ANGER. AMEEN!