How to avoid anger

Question

I am a person who gets angry quickly, and I cannot control myself when I argue with anyone, even my parents. Please tell me of ways and means of avoiding getting angry quickly.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  is His slave and Messenger.

Abu Hurayrah  narrated that a man asked the Prophet : "Advise me" So, the Prophet  told him: "Do not get angry". The man repeated the same question several times and each time the Prophet  answered in the same answer: "Do not get angry". [Al-Bukhari] Commenting on this narration, Abu Hurayrah  said: "I thought about the Prophet’s  answer and I realized that anger combines all kinds of evil" [Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan] Furthermore, Ibn At-Teen  said: "The Prophet  summarized in this expression "Do not get angry" the good of this worldly life and that of the Hereafter"

Anger is an evil trait that can result in severing relationships and can lead to harming the one who enraged the person, all of which may ruin one’s religion, or at least have a negative impact on it.

The cure for anger is to avoid its causes and stimulants, which is the meaning of the saying of the Prophet  "Do not get angry" . Therefore, you should find out what makes you angry and avoid it.

Moreover, whenever you feel angry, you should seek refuge with Allah from the devil. Sulaymaan ibn Surad  narrated that two men abused each other in the presence of the Prophet  and the eyes of one of them turned red and the veins of his neck were swollen. Thereupon the Prophet  said: ''I know a phrase if he says it, he will get rid of what he has: "I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed devil". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Besides, when you feel very angry, then should sit down if you are standing you. If you are sitting, then you should lie down on one of your sides, and if you are already lying down, then you should lie down on your back, as the Prophet  said: ''If you become angry, then if you are standing you should sit down, and if you are sitting, you should lie down on one of your sides, and if you are already lying down, you should lie down on your back.” [Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya]

Among the means of repelling anger and calming down is to perform ablution. ‘Atiyyah ibn ‘Urwah  narrated that the Prophet said: ''Anger comes from the devil and the devil was created from fire and fire is distinguished by water. So, if any of you gets angry, he should perform ablution." [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]

Moreover, one should remember that suppressing one's anger is a characteristic of the pious people whom Allah loves. Allah Says (what means): {…Who restrain anger and who pardon the people- and Allah loves the doers of good.} [Quran 3:134]

Finally, the variety of ways in treating anger shows the great importance that Allaah attached to this human state and how to deal with it, and this is because of the dangerous consequences that it could lead to. For instance, countless families have been broken up, kinship relations have been severed and blood was shed; all of this was in a moment of anger where a person did not ponder upon its consequences.

Therefore, a Muslim should strive against his own inclinations, control his anger and be patient. The Prophet  said: ''The strong person is not the one who defeats others with his physical strength; rather, it is the one who can control himself when he is enraged.” [Al-Bukhari]

Allah Knows best.

-islamweb.net