The Muslim who understands his religion trains himself always to be patient and to control his anger, following the teachings of the Qur'an:” who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men for Allah loves those who do good." [Al-Imran:134]
The strong man, according to Islam, is not the one who has muscles and can wrestle others to the ground; rather, it is the one who has equilibrium, patience, and self-control. The Prophet (SAW) said:" The strong man is not the one who can wrestle, but it is the one who can control himself when he is angry." [Agreed upon]
Self-control at the time of anger is the measure of a man's manhood, because if a man can control himself at such a time, then he will be able to take charge of any situation, prevent conflicts and trouble, reach his goals, and earn the pleasure of Allah and people. Hence, when a man came to the Prophet (SAW) and asked him to advise him in just one phrase, he said, “Do not become angry." The man repeated his request for advice, and each time, the Prophet (SAW) replied with this one phrase that sums up all good attitudes and behavior: "Do not become angry." [Al-Bukhari]
Ibn'Abbas said: "The Prophet (SAW) said to Ashajj Abdul-Qays, 'You have two qualities that Allah loves: patience and deliberation.'" [Muslim]
The true Muslim does become angry sometimes, but it is not for his own sake; rather, it is for the sake of Allah, if one of His laws is violated or abolished, or one of His rites is insulted. In this case, the Muslim will rise in anger against the sinful oppressors who deny the laws of Allah and trifle with His Sharia. This is what the Prophet (SAW) used to do, as in the hadith narrated by Imam Malik and al-Bukhari: "The Prophet (SAW) never took revenge for his own sake, but if the laws of Allah were violated, he would take revenge for the sake of Allah."
The Prophet (SAW) used to become furious, and his face would redden, if he heard some insult to the reputation of Islam, or if he discovered some error or negligence in applying its laws and carrying out its punishments.
He became furious the day a man came to him and said, "I always come late to salat al-subh (fajr prayer), because of so-and-so who always makes the prayer too lengthy." The Prophet (SAW) was never seen as angrier in his rebuke than he was on that day. He said: "O people, there are among you those who put others off from good deeds. When anyone leads the people in prayer, he should keep it short, for behind him are the old, the young, and the one who has a pressing need." [Agreed upon]
He also became angry the day he returned from a journey and found a thin curtain covered with pictures in 'A'ishah's house. When he saw it, he tore it down, and his face reddened. He told her, "O 'A'ishah, the people who will be most severely punished by Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be those who imitate the creation of Allah." [Agreed upon]
He also became angry when Usamah ibn Zayd spoke to him concerning the Makhzumi woman who had committed theft, and the Prophet (SAAS) had decreed that the punishment be carried out on her. The people said, "Who will speak to the Prophet (SAW) about her?" Then they said, "Who dares to do this but Usamah ibn Zayd, his beloved?" So Usamah spoke to him, and the Prophet (SAW) said angrily, "Are you interceding to stop one of the punishments ordained by Allah?"
Then he got up and addressed the people: "The people who came before you were destroyed because when one of their noblemen committed theft, they let him off, but when one of the weak among them committed theft, then they would carry out the punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, were to commit theft, I would cut off her hand." [Agreed upon]
Such was the anger of the Prophet (SAW), and these are the valid reasons for anger according to Islam. Anger should be for the sake of Allah, not people.
Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi
