CONTROL YOUR ANGER: 18

HAZRAT ABU BAKR SIDDIQ RAA SCOLDING HIS SLAVE

In another narration it is stated that when the Holy Prophet ﷺ saw Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq Razi Allah Anhu scolding his slave, he said,

لعّانین و صدّیقین کلّا و ربّ الکعبة

“On one hand you curse your slave, and on the other hand you become Siddiq. By the Master of Ka’abah this cannot happen,” meaning that your status is that of a Siddiq, and cursing your slave is not compatible with the status of Siddiq. This is how the Holy Prophet ﷺ advised Hazrat Abu Bakr RAA not to act on his anger. The lesson for us is that whenever we begin to get angry with someone we must remind ourselves that Allah Ta’alah holds much greater authority and power over me than I have over this person. If Allah Ta’alah begins to get angry with me the same way I am getting angry with this person, then where will I find refuge? These are the various strategies of controlling our anger that the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet ﷺ have taught us.

SURAH AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS): 5-10

[7:5]

So, when Our punishment came upon them, they could say nothing but cry, "We were wrongdoers indeed". 
[7:6]
So, We shall ask those to whom the messengers were sent, and We shall ask the messengers (how they conveyed the message).
[7:7]
Then, having full knowledge, We shall tell them the whole story, as We were never far from them.
[7:8]
The Weighing (of deeds) on that day is definite. As for those whose scales are heavy, they will be the successful ones.
[7:9]
But those whose scales are light, they are the ones who have brought loss to themselves, because they did not do justice to Our verses.
[7:10]

We established you on earth, and created in it means of living for you. Little you appreciate. 

CONTROL YOUR ANGER: 17

ALLAH TA’ALAH’S FORBEARANCE

Allah Ta’alah shows so much forbearance with His creations that even though people keep disobeying Him all the time, commit Kufr (disbelief), associate others with Him committing Shirk (شرک), deny His existence, and yet He keeps providing sustenance to people all the time. In fact, some of the people who disobey Him the most have been granted the greatest of wealth. There is no limit to Allah Ta’alah’s tolerance. That is why it has been said,

تخلَّقو با خلاق الّٰلہ

“Create Allah’s manners in yourself”. If Allah Ta’alah shows forbearance and tolerance towards us and does not become angry with us, then we should try to do the same and not be angry with people who are our subordinates. 

SURAH AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS): 1-3

[7:1]
Alif, Lam, Mim, Sad.

[7:2]
(This is) a book sent down to you. Therefore, your heart must not be straitened because of it. (It is revealed to you) so that you may warn through it, and it may be an advice for the believers.

[7:3]
(O humankind,) follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord, and do not follow any masters other than Him. Little you heed to advice! 

CONTROL YOUR ANGER: 16

ALLAH TA’ALAH HAS MORE POWER OVER US

One other strategy is that when a person is feeling very angry towards someone else, he should pause for a moment and think that if Allah Ta’alah becomes as angry with me as I am with this person, then what will happen to me.

It is narrated in a Hadith that once the Holy Prophet ﷺ was going somewhere. On the way, he saw that Hazrat Siddiq Akbar Razi Allah Anhu was scolding a slave in anger. In a narration, it says that at that time the Holy Prophet ﷺ said to him,

للہ اقدر علیک منک علیہ

“Remember that Allah Ta’alah has much more control and power over you, than you have on this person.” This is a lesson for all of us to remind ourselves when we are expressing anger over and causing distress to someone we have authority over, that Allah Ta’alah holds infinitely more authority over us.