Anger: The Cause of Ruin in This World and the Hereafter
✍🏻By Muhammad Aadil Arariawi
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Respected Readers, anger is a natural human weakness, but controlling it is a great virtue that enhances a person's personality. Anger is one of the natural human emotions, but when it exceeds its limits, it veils the intellect and leads a person to harmful decisions. Words spoken and actions taken in a state of anger often lead to regret later. That is why it is said that controlling anger is true bravery because it protects a person's morals, character, and mental peace. Allah Almighty has placed anger in humans by nature. When something happens against their will and temperament, the fire of anger flares up within them, causing them to become agitated. Their veins swell, their face and eyes turn red, and sometimes their hands and feet tremble, and their tongue stutters. At such times, their mental state does not remain in its normal condition. This is the time when they make decisions that ruin their future. Home, family, wife, children, and friends all become separated from them. The sanctity of blood relations is violated. Along with this, they also suffer physical harm. Many diseases afflict them, such as high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, chronic headaches, mental stress, paralysis, and sometimes even heart attacks. The immune system weakens, making it difficult to recover from illnesses. Its social harms are also significant. An angry person is not fit to attend any gathering and falls in the eyes of others. Socially and morally, such a person is considered hateful and blameworthy, and wealth, property, land, and business are all destroyed.
The more anger increases, the more it isolates a person from society, to the extent that many talented young people are deprived of great religious services and lose their honorable position due to not controlling this anger. There can be many reasons for anger getting out of control, such as haste, intolerance, fatigue, mental stress, or unnecessary expectations from others. When a person makes every matter a matter of their ego, even small things turn into big conflicts. In contrast, a person who adopts patience and tolerance not only gains respect in the hearts of others but also lives a peaceful life themselves. You must have seen many old people with your own eyes whose angry temperaments have cut them off from society. There are many people who possess leadership qualities whose abilities have been eaten away by anger like termites, and today they are living a life of servitude. Their circle of friends has shrunk.
Thus, anger is the root cause of deprivation and failure, and this deprivation is not limited to this world but also encompasses the hereafter. An angry person also violates the commands of Islam and the limits of Sharia and makes themselves fuel for Hell. Therefore, in Islamic teachings, anger has been declared the root and foundation of all evils, and it has been commanded to control it.
Allah Almighty says:
وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ Surah Al-Imran, Verse 134
Translation: Those who restrain anger and pardon people; and Allah loves the doers of good.
To control anger, a few practical methods can be adopted. Remaining silent in a state of anger, taking deep breaths, changing the place, or postponing the conversation for a while proves very beneficial. In addition, positive thinking, trying to understand others' points of view, and self-reflection protect a person from anger. If a person thinks that anger is not a solution to the problem but rather exacerbates it, they will automatically choose the path of tolerance.
عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَنَا إِذَا غَضِبَ أَحَدُكُمْ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ فَلْيَجْلِسُ فَإِنْ ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الْغَضَبُ وَإِلَّا فَلْيَضْطَجِعُ (Sunan Abi Dawood, Chapter on what to say when angry, Hadith Number 4784)
Translation: Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghiffari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When anger comes to you, if you are standing, then sit down. If the anger subsides, then that is fine, otherwise lie down.
The people of Arabia, on such occasions, advise each other to send blessings upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), due to which Allah's mercy is directed, and the satanic influences are removed. Similarly, taking a few sips of water also reduces anger. In the end, it can only be said that controlling anger is the key to a successful and happy life. A person who controls their anger not only strengthens their relationships but also promotes peace and love in society. We should make patience, tolerance, and wisdom our motto because true strength lies not in anger but in controlling it.
May Allah Almighty make us all gentle and protect us from anger and its bad consequences. May Allah Almighty, through the blessings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), protect us from His wrath on the Day of Judgment. Amen, O Lord of the Worlds.