Hadiths Prohibiting Anger
Below are some highlights from the Sunnah regarding the prohibition of anger:
- It was narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: “A man asked the Prophet for advice, and he said: ‘Do not become angry.’ The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet responded: ‘Do not become angry.’
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The strong person is not one who overcomes others in wrestling; rather, the strong person is the one who controls himself when he is angry.”
- Additionally, it was narrated by Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Do not become angry, and for you will be Paradise.”
Hadiths on Managing Anger
The Sunnah contains numerous teachings on how to manage and alleviate anger. Some key hadiths are as follows:
- According to Abu Dharr Al-Ghafari (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If any one of you becomes angry while standing, let him sit down; if the anger departs, fine, but if it does not, let him lie down.”
- Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned: “Anger is a burning ember in the heart of the son of Adam. Have you not observed the redness of his eyes and the swelling of his veins? So, whoever feels this should place his face to the ground.”
- Sulaiman ibn Surad (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he was sitting with the Prophet (peace be upon him) when two men were quarreling, and one of them turned red in the face and his veins swelled. The Prophet said: “I know a word that if he were to say it, what he feels would depart from him. If he says: ‘I seek refuge in Allah from Satan,’ whatever he feels would leave him.” The individuals responded to him that the Prophet said: “Seek refuge in Allah from Satan,” to which he replied: “Am I insane?”
- Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Teach and make things easy, and do not make them difficult. Give glad tidings and do not sow hatred. And if one of you becomes angry, let him remain silent.”
Hadiths on the Virtue of Restraining Anger
Here are several hadiths that emphasize the virtue of controlling anger:
- It was reported by Mu’adh ibn Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever suppresses his anger while he is able to seek revenge, Allah will call him forth on the Day of Judgment and allow him to choose from the houris of Paradise whatever he desires.”
- Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by some people wrestling and asked: “What is this?” They replied: “So-and-so does not wrestle with anyone but conquers him.” The Prophet then said: “Should I not point out to you someone stronger than him? It is a man who speaks to another and suppresses his anger, thus overcoming him and dominating his own self as well as the rival’s desires.”