Musnad Ishaq

Benefits:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: The strong man is not the one who overcomes others in wrestling, but the real strong man is the one who controls himself when he is angry. (Bukhari, no. 6114)

It is understood from this that the powerful, the strong man is the one who controls his anger. In the Noble Qur’an, those who control their anger have been praised. Allah the Exalted says: ﴿وَالَّذِیْنَ یَجْتَنِبُوْنَ کَبَائِرَ الْاِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَاِذَا مَا غَضِبُوْا هُمْ یَغْفِرُوْنَ﴾ (: Ash-Shura: 37).... “Those who avoid major sins and indecencies, and when they are angry, they forgive.”

And He said: ﴿الَّذِیْنَ یُنْفِقُوْنَ فِی السَّرَّآئِ وَ الضَّرَّآءِ وَ الْکٰظِمِیْنَ الْغَیْظَ﴾ (: Al Imran: 134).... “Those who spend (in charity) in ease and hardship, and those who restrain their anger.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas radi Allahu anhu that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam passed by some people who were lifting stones. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam asked: “What are these people doing?” The people said: They are lifting stones. Their intention was to describe the strength (and power) of the people. The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Shall I not tell you of a person who is even stronger than this? He is the one who controls himself at the time of anger.”

In another narration, the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam passed by some people who were wrestling. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam asked: “What is this?” The people said: This is so-and-so wrestler who defeats everyone in wrestling. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Shall I not tell you of a person who is even more powerful than him? He is the man against whom someone has wronged him, but he swallows his anger, and thus he overcomes his own devil, the devil of the oppressor, and the devil of his opponent (i.e., he has defeated all three).” (Silsilat as-Saheehah, no. 3295)

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has taught several methods for controlling anger:

➊ Sayyiduna Sulayman bin Surad radi Allahu anhu says: I was sitting with the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam when two men were abusing each other. One of them’s face turned red and his neck veins swelled. The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “I know a word, if he were to say it, what he is experiencing would go away. If he says ((A‘udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim)) (Bukhari, no. 3282), what he is experiencing will go away.”

➋ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas radi Allahu anhuma that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((Idha ghadiba ahadukum fal-yaskut)) (Sahih al-Jami‘ as-Saghir, no. 693).... “When any of you becomes angry, let him remain silent.”

➌ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “When any of you becomes angry while standing, let him sit down. If the anger leaves him, that is better; otherwise, let him lie down.” (Sahih al-Jami‘ as-Saghir, no. 694)

And what reward will those who swallow their anger receive? Sayyiduna Mu‘adh bin Anas radi Allahu anhu reports that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: Whoever swallows his anger while having the ability to act upon it, Allah will call him before all creation on the Day of Resurrection and will give him the choice to select whichever of the wide-eyed maidens (hur al-‘ayn) of Paradise he wishes. (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Adab, no. 4777)