Anger is Permitted, but Being Ill-Tempered is Not
Anger is an expression of the soul that anyone can experience. Daniel Goleman, in his book Emotional Intelligence (1995), quoted Aristotle on anger: “Anybody can become angry, that is easy. But to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way—that is not everybody’s power, and is not easy.”
Anyone can become angry. That is easy. However, to be angry at the right person with measured anger, at the right time, and for the right purpose—not everyone can do this, and it is not easy.
In the Qur’an, anger is mentioned in four terms: ghodlob (17 times), ghaidz (5 times), sakhat (3 times), and maqta (5 times). All carry similar meanings. Ghaidz is a higher level of anger than ghodlob. Maqta is generally associated with anger related to sinful behaviour, breaking the law, or despicable actions.
“Great is the hatred of Allah that you say what you do not do” (Qur’an 61:3). “The righteous are those who are able to restrain their anger and forgive the mistakes of others” (Qur’an 3:134).
According to the Al-Muyassar Tafsir, restraining anger means being patient, suppressing anger in one’s heart without venting that anger and committing injustice against others.
Anger is not a forbidden act. In several narrations, it is mentioned that the Prophet Muhammad also became angry. When angry, his face would turn red, he tended not to speak, and he never engaged in physical violence. The Prophet never became angry when he himself was insulted or regarding personal matters. He became angry only when Allah’s law was violated.
In a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari, the Prophet became angry with Usamah ibn Zaid because he killed someone who, in a desperate position on the battlefield, had uttered “la ilaha illa Allah” (there is no god but Allah). Usamah killed him anyway, claiming the man was only deceiving by pretending. The Prophet scolded Usamah for his mistake.
The ability to restrain anger is not a weakness but a strength. “The strong are not those who win in wrestling, but those who are able to control themselves when angry” (Hadith narrated by Malik from Abu Hurairah). The strong are those who do not become angry easily and quickly forgive. Conversely, the weak are those who become angry easily and struggle to forgive.
Anger need not be expressed through vulgar, crude, or insulting words, whether verbal or physical. Anger can be expressed through sarcasm, metaphor, or humour. This is intended to preserve one’s dignity and avoid hurting the feelings of the person towards whom anger is directed.
Islam forbids making decisions while angry. When angry, the mind becomes clouded, the heart is overtaken by emotion, and one is controlled by hatred. Frequently becoming angry can cause one to lose dignity.
Furthermore, anger has the potential to cause high blood pressure and various mental disorders. According to Imam Al-Ghazali, to master one’s emotions, when angry, one should sit down, seek forgiveness, recite virtuous phrases, and perform ablution.
Fasting teaches patience, the ability to restrain oneself, and emotional management. The Prophet said: “Fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink. Fasting means abstaining from vain actions and despicable speech. If someone foolish provokes your anger, respond by saying ‘I am fasting’” (Hadith narrated by Hakim from Abu Hurairah).