CONTROL YOUR ANGER: 33

WE HAVE NOT BEEN MADE IN CHARGE OF OTHERS

Even if we start following Allah Ta’alah’s path, it does not mean that from now on we have become in charge of others, and it has become our responsibility that they behave appropriately and correctly at all times, and to become angry if we perceive that they are not doing so. Our job is just to keep conveying Allah’s message in the correct manner, and with the correct intentions, to others, and to keep doing it. Even if doesn’t work immediately we should not become despondent or frustrated, and we must never do anything that leads to discord between people.

May Allah Ta’alah bless us with the ability to control our anger, and to use it only within the boundaries set by the Shariah. Ameen

SURAH AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS): 52-53

[7:52]
Surely We have brought them a book that We have elaborated with knowledge, as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
[7:53]
They are waiting for nothing but its final result (i.e. the punishment promised in the Qur‘an). The day when its final result will come, those who had ignored it earlier will say, "Surely, the messengers of our Lord had come with truth. So, are there any intercessors for us who could intercede in our favor? Or, could we be sent back, so that we might do contrary to what we used to do?" Indeed, they have put their selves to loss, and vanished from them all that they used to fabricate. 

CONTROL YOUR ANGER: 32

ALLAMA SHABBIR AHMAD USMANI’S ADVICE

Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani Rehmatullah Elaih used to say that if right advice, is given in the right way, with right intentions, it is always effective, and never leads to discord. So he set three conditions; the advice should be right, the intention should be right, and the manner in which it is delivered should be right. For example, if someone is engaged in a sin, he should be counselled about the nature of that mistake, but the intention should be that my brother gets out of this mistake, it should not be to prove how righteous and better than others we are, and shouldn’t be to humiliate others, and it should be done privately in a very polite and gentle manner, the person shouldn’t be embarrassed in front of others. If these three conditions are met, then generally such Tableegh (preaching) will not lead to discord.

SURAH AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS): 48-51

[7:48]
The people of Araf will call out to the people (of Fire) whom they will recognize through their signs: "Your masses were not of any help to you, nor was the arrogance you used to show.
[7:49]
Is it these (people of Paradise) about whom you swore that Allah would not allow His mercy to reach them?" (It will be said to such people,) "Enter Paradise; there will be no fear for you, nor shall you grieve".
[7:50]
The people of the Fire will call out to the people of Paradise, "Pour on us some water, or some of what Allah has provided you". They will say, "Allah has prohibited these for disbelievers,
[7:51]
who had taken their faith as play and a game, and the worldly life had deceived them." So, We shall forget them today, as they had forgotten to face this day of theirs, and as they used to deny Our signs. 

CONTROL YOUR ANGER: 31

MISUSE OF بغض فی الّٰلہ (ANGER FOR ALLAH)

While it is correct that our anger should only be for Allah Ta’alah, some people misunderstand the meaning of this completely. For example, when some people start following religion, they start believing that they are superior and virtuous, while everyone else is inferior and is a sinner. They start thinking that their parents, their siblings, their friends are all sinners, and will go to Hell (Jahannum), while they are the only ones who will go to paradise (Jannah). They start believing that Allah Ta’alah has created them to bring everyone else to the right path. They start being angry with their family and friends, start insulting and ridiculing them, start using harsh words with them, ad start violating their rights. The Satan makes them believe that whatever they are doing is for the sake of Allah, while in reality it is their Takabbur (arrogance, believing that we are superior to others and others are inferior to us) and egotism leading them to such behaviour.

That is why people who have just started following the path of Allah sometimes cause more harm than good, by being angry with other people excessively, criticizing other harshly, and getting into fights over religion. Such behaviour often puts other people off religion, rather than attract them towards it.