Getting Angry...

 

Peace be to you my dear friends,

Today I chose to talk about Anger and draw something about it:
Anger is the feeling one has toward something or someone that hurts, opposes, offends, or annoys, strong displeasure.
Anger is a destructive emotion, as a fire which destroys our well-being, consumes our good actions, repels our friends and dear ones, frightens our children and forces the angels to report bad actions for the Heavenly Records. This is a dangerous rough road and no-one is devoid of it and it brings one close to the wrath of God.
We all experience anger from time to time. Maybe your spouse did something to upset you... the children are misbehaving... someone cut you off in traffic... your boss is being unreasonable. We share this world with many people of many different personalities. It is inevitable that we will feel anger or frustration from time to time. While the feelings are inevitable, angry reactions are not.
In fact, the teachings of Islam are very clear on this: it is haram (forbidden) to lash out in anger. The Holy Qur'an says:
"O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith. And whoso turneth not in repentance, such are evil-doers." (49: 11)
This verse says quite plainly that we are not allowed to insult, belittle, put down, or curse others. Several hadiths (sayings of the prophet) from various sources go on to say that the Prophet -peace be upon him- reported that it is our mouths or tongues which will lead us to Hell. In other words, the words we say will lead us to sin and, consequently, punishment. Words said in anger will definitely be among those!
In addition to insults and name-calling, we should also avoid yelling, screaming, and physical violence.
The Prophet Mohammed -peace be upon him- frequently advised his followers to refrain from anger. A man said to the Prophet, "Advise me!" The Prophet said, "Do not become angry and furious." The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet said in each case, "Do not become angry and furious."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The strong man is not the one who throws people in wrestling. The strong man is the one who has control of himself when he is angry".
he also said: "The best of you are those who are slow to anger and swift to cool down...Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendants of Adam."
and "Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire is extinguished only with water; so when one of you becomes angry, he should perform ablution."
and "When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down."
and "If one of you becomes angry then he should be silent."
It is narrated that two people were arguing in the presence of the prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- One of the two became so angry that his face went red and his veins swelled. Muhammad Lifted his face towards that person and said to him that I know a sentence if you were to say it your anger will go away. The sentence is called ta'aw’wz in Arabic. The English translation is as follows: "I SEEK GOD'S PROTECTION FROM THE CURSED SATAN"
Islamic Recipe for Calm
As mentioned before, feelings of anger are bound to occur. We live in a high-stress, fast-paced world, and it is unrealistic to think that things will always go as planned or that people will always act in ways that please us. So, what should we do when something upsets us? As in most areas of life, God sent us some guidelines in dealing with negative feelings.
Several hadiths instruct Muslims to say the ta'aw’wz ("I SEEK GOD'S PROTECTION FROM THE CURSED SATAN"). someone can also sit down or lie down at the onset of anger. This helps to slow the breathing and the heart rate and should lead to calmer feelings. This also gives you a chance to step away from the situation and explore your options. Usually, this time-out will allow you to censor your response and find something appropriate.
If sitting does not restore your calm, someone should wash and make ablution (wudu). Make a dua (supplication to God). It is also a good idea to ask for God's forgiveness for your anger, anything you did to contribute to the confrontation, and anything you did or said in anger. someone can also make prayers...
Many muslims find peace and comfort in reading the Qur'an. in fact, it is impossible to truly connect with God and feel anger at the same time. The two feelings are mutually exclusive!
Once someone has restored his/her inner calm, he/she can look at the issue in a new and more constructive light. he/she might find it is really a nonissue, and doesn't require a reaction at all. Or, he/she might find that it does need to be dealt with. In that case, he/she should now be equipped to deal with the situation in a calmer, more mature way... if God wills!

I hope you've learnt something new my dear friends.
see you next time.

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