No to Anger

NO TO ANGER The Quran describes the believers as those who, when they experience anger, forgive (42:37). This means that when a believer faces behaviour from another person that triggers anger, they do not respond with anger. Instead, they respond with forgiveness. Rather than reacting, they choose the path of patience, forgiveness, or avoidance, addressing the situation calmly and nipping it in the bud. Instead of engaging with the other party, they focus on themselves. “Once, a man came to the Messenger of God and said, ‘Messenger of God, teach me some words by which I can live. Do not make them too much for me, lest I forget.’ The Messenger of God said, ‘Do not be angry.’” (Muwatta of Malik, Hadith No. 1891). Anger never arises in a vacuum. It always occurs when someone says or does something that provokes —when someone behaves badly toward you, or when you are hurt in a way that challenges your ego. Anger is a reaction, and it always comes when you face an unpleasant experience caused by someone else. In such moments, one option is to react by doing to the other person what they have done to you. But this is not the teaching of Islam. Islam teaches that even when someone provokes you, you should not become angry. Even when someone tries to incite you, you should protect yourself from being provoked.