- Keeping silent
The messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent (Reported by Imam Ahmed, Al musnad. See also saheeh Al-jaami, 693, 4027)”. This is because an angry person loses self-control and could utter words of disbelief or curses, or the words of divorce which would destroy his home or the words of slander which would bring him the enmity and hatred of others. So, keeping silent is the solution which helps to avoid ugly situations. - Not moving
The messenger of Allah 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 (Abu Dawud, book. 034, hadith no. 4764)”.
The narrator of this this hadith is Abu Dharr and there is a story connected to his telling of it:
“He was taking camels to drink at a trough that he owned, when 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 (i.e. Abu Dharr was expecting help in watering his camels) but instead, the man misbehaved and caused the trough to be broken. Abu Dharr was standing so he sat down. Then laid down. Someone asked him: ‘O Abu Dharr, why did you sit and lie down?’ He said: ‘The messenger of Allah said…(repeated the Hadith)”. - Following the advise of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
Abu Hurayrah reported that the man said to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) ‘advice me’, to which the Prophet said: ‘do not become angry’. The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet told him: ‘do not become angry’ (Reported by Al-Bukhari, Fath al Bari, 10/456). - Do not become angry and paradise will be yours
Remembering what Allah has promised to the righteous 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. One of the ahadith that describes the great reward for doing this is: “Whoever controls his anger when he has the means to act upon it, Allah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of resurrection (Reported by Al-Tabarani, 12/453. See also shaheeh Al-jaami, 6518)”. - Knowing the high status offered
The messenger of Allah said: “The strong man is not the one who can overpower others (in wrestling), rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets angry (Reported by Ahmed, 2/236)”. The greater the anger, the higher the status of the one who controls it. - Following the Prophet’s (PBUH) example
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is our leader and has set the highest example in this matter. One of the most famous ahadith was reported by Anas who said: “I was walking with the messenger of Allah (PBUH), and he was wearing his najraani cloak with a rough collar. A Bedouin came and seized him roughly by the edge of his cloak, and I saw marks left on his neck by the collar. Then the Bedouin ordered him to give him some of the wealth of Allah that he had. The Prophet (PBUH) turned to him and smiled, then ordered that he should be given something (Agreed upon, Fath al Bari, 10/375)”. - For the sake of Allah
Another way in which we can follow the example of the Prophet (PBUH) is by making our anger for the sake of Allah when His rights are violated. This is the kind of anger which is praiseworthy. For example, the Prophet (PBUH) became angry when he was told about the imam who was putting people off the prayer by making it too long; when he saw curtains with pictures of animals while he was praying. His anger was purely for the sake of Allah. - Knowing the effects of anger
The negative effects of anger are many. In short, they cause damage to oneself and others. The angry person may utter the words of slander, he may attack others (physically) in an uncontrolled manner, even to the point of killing. Ilqimah Ibn Waa’il reported that his father (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him:
“I was sitting with the Prophet (PBUH) when a man came to him leading another man by a rope. He said ‘O messenger of Allah, this man killed my brother’. The messenger of Allah asked him: ‘Did you kill him?’. He said: ‘yes’. The Prophet asked: ‘How did you kill him?’. The man said: ‘He and I were hitting a tree to make the leaves fall, for animal feed, and he slandered me so I struck him on the side of the head with an axe, and killed him…..’ (Reported by saheeh Muslim, 1307, edited by Al-Baaqi)”.
Extreme anger results in social disasters and breaking of family ties. It can result in misery of children, regret, frustrations, mental disturbance, and a difficult life. - Supplication
Dua ’a (supplication) is always the weapon of the believer, thereby he asks Allah to protect him from evil, trouble, and anger. One of the dua ‘a of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was:
“….O Allah, I ask You to make me fear You in secret and in public, and I ask You to make me speak the truth in times of contentment and of anger…. (Saheeh Al-Jaami, 3039)”.
Anger is a part of human nature, and people vary in their anger. It may be difficult for a man not to get angry, but believers will remember Allah when they are reminded and will seek His help and guidance. May Allah guide us to a path of righteousness and make us among His most pious people.
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