Anger Management in Islam

Anger is probably one of the most argued basic emotions. ANGER, also notorious as RAGE, is an extreme state of emotion involving a strong uncomfortable and antagonistic response to a self-perceived threat. Contemporary psychologists interpret anger as a natural emotion experienced by all humans, and has functional value for existence. Uncontrolled anger however, can negatively affect personal and social well-being.

Anger is a signal from the consciousness that something needs to be changed immediately in response to an event around us. This response depends on individuals, which might be of different magnitude and character.

There are a number of potential causes of anger management issues. These may include:

• Lack of faith, since we have omitted religion out of our lives
• Stress due to personal or work place
• Fear and frustration
• Existing psychiatric conditions
• Memories of Abuse or Trauma
• Substance abuse

According to WHO statistics one out of four people will be effected with metal disorders. With depression and anxiety being on top, eventually leading to anger. We visualize this anger every day at our work places, on the roads and even at our homes. The internet is full of news where rage eventually ends up in mass killings and inhuman behavior.

Conventional Anger management usually includes:

• Relaxation techniques
• Behavioral therapy
• Depression and anxiety medication
• Anger management classes
• Support groups

Unfortunately, strengthening of faith is not included in the conventional treatment, because we have made it redundant from our lives.

.الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

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. Al-Quran 3:134

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ صُرَدٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ جَالِسًا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَجُلاَنِ يَسْتَبَّانِ، فَأَحَدُهُمَا احْمَرَّ وَجْهُهُ وَانْتَفَخَتْ أَوْدَاجُهُ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ إِنِّي لأَعْلَمُ كَلِمَةً لَوْ قَالَهَا ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ مَا يَجِدُ، لَوْ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ‏.‏ ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ مَا يَجِدُ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ تَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ‏”‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ وَهَلْ بِي جُنُونٌ

Suleiman ibn Sard said: “I was sitting with the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H), and two men were slandering one another. One of them got red the faced due to anger, and the veins on his neck was appearing prominently. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said that I will tell you a sentence which, you should say in anger and the anger will go away. He (P.B.U.H) said the sentence is “I seek refuge with Allah from the Satan,” and anger will disappear. Sahih Bukhari, 3282

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيِّبِ ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ “لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ”

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The strong are not the best wrestlers. Verily, the strong are only those who control themselves when they are angry.” Sahih Bukhari: 6114

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَرْبِ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَنَا ‏ “‏ إِذَا غَضِبَ أَحَدُكُمْ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ فَلْيَجْلِسْ فَإِنْ ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الْغَضَبُ وَإِلاَّ فَلْيَضْطَجِعْ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Narated By AbuDharr : The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) said to us: 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. Sunan Abi Dawud 4782

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