Why Islam And Other Spiritual Systems Decry Anger? The Disease And Its Treatment

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 30 November 2023 Anger Can Affect Anyone, Regardless Of Religion, Caste, Or Culture. It's Crucial For Individuals To Learn To Control It, Letting It Go. Indeed Treat This As A Diease That Requires Proper Treatment, Considering Its Nature, And Effects On The Mind And Soul. ----- Anger is a significant social issue that can have severe consequences, and its resolution is crucial for maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Anger is one of the most disliked things in Islam. At several places in the Quran and Sunnah, we come across numerous passages that dislike angry behaviour. Instead, we find beautiful guidance that teaches us to be forgiving and to stop acting out of anger. For example, Allah Almighty says in the Quran, “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” (3:134) Not only does Islam dislike the attitude of anger, but so do other religions. Anger is something no good human being would like to adopt. But this is also to know that an angry attitude can attack anyone regardless of religion, caste and culture. Hence it is equally necessary for all people to learn how to control it. The one who experiences anger must first learn how to control it when it arises. He or she will have to consider anger's nature, its effects on the mind and soul, and, in the end, how to let it go. The reason Allah, the Exalted, created man and gave him feelings of good and evil is to see what kind of passions a person feeds into and how much control they have over them. "Anger" is a significant feeling among these feelings. According to verse 3:134 mentioned above, those who swallow their anger and become forgiving are referred to as the favourite slaves of Allah Almighty. Allah, the Exalted, according to Imam al-Ghazali, likes the person who swallows anger above all other types of sips. A companion approached the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and requested some advice. "Avoid getting angry," the Prophet (peace be upon him) counselled him. If he had wanted to, he could have given him advice on Zikr, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and other topics, but instead, he taught him how to control his wrath. One of the main defences of the recommendation to control anger is that rage is a collection of many evils rather than just one evil. For this reason, Sufi scholars say that anger is the mother of all maladies. (Ihya al-Uloom) These days, being angry is considered a skill. Some people would proudly declare, for instance, that "my scalp is hot, I don't care, I just say it with a clear mouth, I can't tolerate anything." They use these grandiose phrases as if they are discussing something important, but in reality, they are all tricks of Satan, who utilises them as his instruments to incite people to wrath and cause us and our loved ones to suffer. Anger is not just a fleeting emotion; it is a disease that profoundly changes a person's personality. Imam al-Ghazali says in this context that persons who are able to manage their wrath are among scholars, Ulama, saints, and virtuous people. Those who are furious, on the other hand, exhibit dreadful facial expressions, lose their composure, and transform into a vicious beasts. (Ihya al-Ulum) A person can quickly go from reason to less rationality when they are angry. He does not even realise that something is wrong with his head. Some have said that being angry is the primary cause of idiocy and less logic, as though anger had a major role in leading someone to act foolishly. The following tips can help one manage their anger: There must be a cause for anger since it becomes a permanent feature of our emotions. Experts say that anger is a reaction, and fear is always the result of ineptitude. One of the primary reasons of rage is fear. For instance: When a man neglects his wife's rights, he is always plagued by anxiety about how he will get home. How can the debts and maintenance be paid? When he returns home, his wife will ask him about unfulfilled commitments, medical costs, household rations, and child expenses. He will become fearful of his shortcomings and become agitated anytime she brings up any of these issues. He will become angry, fight, etc. to cover up his inadequacy and dread of being encircled. In this situation, turning his incompetence into competence is the only thing that can soothe his rage. Various self-conceived beliefs can give rise to anger, such as those concerning caste, family, tribe, colour, and the false notion that one is better than another due to unwarranted discrimination. It's crucial to understand that rage is a normal feeling and a component of human wants first and foremost. Therefore, any anger management techniques will merely focus on controlling the anger rather than completely eliminating it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, "The strong man is not the one who can overpower others (in wrestling); rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets angry." [Sahih/Authentic - Al-Bukhari and Muslim] This implies that actual power is not solely determined by the strength of muscles and body. Strong people are not the ones who always defeat strong people. Rather, a truly strong man is one who exercises self-control and overpowers himself when he is in a state of anger. "Anger" is a major factor in the sharp increase in divorce rates. Some men take their wives' trivial issues to the point of divorce out of anger, and most of them subsequently admit that they divorced them out of anger and that they are ashamed of it and need to be taught something in order to get their spouse back. A useful remedy for controlling anger is to repeat the punishment of God and the power of Allah in the mind during anger. You can also control your anger if you avoid being around the person you are upset with or in their vicinity. Movement-heated molecules, according to Imam Ghazali, are the true source of heat in the human body. Because of the spirit of revenge, the more he thinks, moves, responds, raises his hand, and reacts, the more he will move in response. However, the heat will dissipate as soon as he moves away, settles down, and ceases making such reactions. This will ultimately soothe his irate mood. To control anger, one must practise humility and remember that there are those who are more important than themselves. Additionally, when you become angry, step away from the person who is offending you, sit down, drink some water, and begin reciting Taawwuz (I seek the protection of Allah from Satan) aloud. If you do this, God willing, your anger will be restrained. ---- Kaniz Fatma is a regular columnist for New Age Islam URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-q-a/spiritual-anger-disease-treatment/d/131218 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism