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العربية
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Controlling Anger

Read published English translations and explanations on this topic. These are related source narrations; their wording and selection may differ from the Arabic site’s short selections. Every card identifies its own source.

Narrated by Al-BukhāriAuthentic

Do not get angry

Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "Advise me." He said: "Do not get angry." He repeated that several times, and every time, he would say: "Do not get angry."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Narrated by Al-Bukhāri
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه: أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَوْصِنِي، قَالَ: «لَا تَغْضَبْ» فَرَدَّدَ مِرَارًا قَالَ: «لَا تَغْضَبْ».
Understand this hadith

One of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to direct him to something that would benefit him. He instructed him not to get angry. This means he should avoid the things that would make him angry and should restrain himself in case he becomes angry, not going to excess in his anger by killing, beating, cursing, and so on. The man repeated his request for advice several times, and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said no more in his advice than "Do not get angry".

Lessons from the hadith
  • The Hadīth warns against anger and its causes, for it combines all evil, and avoiding it leads to all goodness.
  • Anger for the sake of Allah, like getting angry when Allah's prohibitions are violated, is commendable.
  • If needed, one may repeat the speech so that the addressed person can understand it and realize its significance.
  • It shows the merit of seeking advice from a knowledgeable person.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح البخاري (8/ 28) (6116). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية (ص36). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص181). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، للعباد (ص64). المعجم الوسيط، (2/ 1038). تاج العروس من جواهر القاموس، للزبيدي (3/ 485).

Agreed uponAuthentic

The strong man is not the one who can overpower others; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he is angry

Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The strong man is not the one who can overpower others; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he is angry."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Agreed upon
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) points out that true strength is not the strength of a person's body or his ability to overpower other strong men. But a truly strong person is one who strives to control and restrain himself while in a fit of rage. This indicates the power he exercises over himself and his ability to overpower the devil.

Lessons from the hadith
  • The Hadīth points out the merit of forbearance and self-restraint while in anger and that it is one of the righteous acts encouraged by Islam.
  • Self-restraint in the moment of anger is more difficult than striving against the enemy.
  • Islam has transformed the jāhiliyyah (ignorance) notion of strength into noble manners. The most powerful person is he who maintains great self-restraint.
  • We should avoid anger, given its harmful effects on individuals as well as society.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح البخاري (8/ 28) (6114). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2014) (2609). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 198). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، للبسام (7/ 394). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، (538). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، للهلالي (1/ 698).

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