Discover Who Is Truly Strong as per Islamic Guidelines

Hadith Commentary

Who is strong?

Muhammad Asif Attari Madani

As reported Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī on the authority of Abū Hurayra رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared:

لَيْسَ الشَّدِيْدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ اِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهٗ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ

The strong is not he who overcomes other, but who controls himself in anger.[1]

Commentary of Hadith

There is mention of two types of strong people in this hadith. One is physically strong and can floor his opponent, and the other is he who possesses spiritual strength allowing to not respond to his opponent in anger. Rather, he controls his sworn enemy, i.e. his carnal self (nafs). The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared that the truly strong person is the one who possesses spiritual power.[2]

Ibn Baṭṭāl رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes: “This hadith tells us that opposing the carnal self is more difficult than fighting an enemy. Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه was asked, ‘Which form of jihad is most superior?’ He replied, ‘To make jihad against the carnal-self and desires.’”[3]

The concept of strength in Islam

In the Age of Ignorance, whoever could floor his opponent was considered strong. In this concept of strength, the embarrassment and humiliation of the opposition was hidden. As Islam is the religion of peace and safety, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم presented the Islamic concept of strength, which is that the strong and courageous person is he who directs his force towards his carnal self, not towards others.

Suppressing anger is important

The definition of anger is:

ثَوَرَانُ دَمِ الْقَلْبِ اِرَادَۃَ الْاِنْتِقَام

For the blood of the heart to surge with the intention of revenge.[4]

History is witness to the fact that when a person intends to seek revenge from another, he makes every abhorrent attempt to cause harm to the life, wealth and honour of his adversary. To satisfy his anger, he forgets the difference between halal and haram, bringing the Fire of Hell upon himself in the process.

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated:

لِلنَّار ِبَابٌ لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ إِلاَّ مَنْ شَفٰی غَيْظَهُ بِسَخَطِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ

There is a door of Hell not entered by anybody except he whose anger only subsided by disobeying Allah the Esteemed and Majestic.[5]

One harm of anger is that it ruins one’s faith the way that aloe ruins honey.[6]

There is no doubt that a person will feel anger, but if it incites him to commit sins, it is necessary to suppress it. The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “There is no greater gulp in the sight of Allah Almighty than the gulp of anger a servant swallows for His sake.”[7]

Ḥusayn Ṭībī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه comments: “The meaning of swallowing one’s anger is to be patient and forgive the one who caused your anger.”[8]

How should anger be “swallowed”?

The following points are greatly beneficial in controlling the carnal self and suppressing one’s anger:

1) Keep in mind the Prophet’s advice

When our carnal self incites us to display our anger in full, we should look to the guidance of our Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was once requested by a man for advice, to which he said, لَا تَغْضَب – “Do not get angry.” The man asked several times, and the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave the same response each time: لَا تَغْضَب – “Do not get angry.”[9]

Al-Khaṭṭābī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه mentions, “The meaning of لَا تَغْضَب is to avoid the causes of anger and to not allow the state experienced in anger to overcome you.”[10]

2) Remember Allah Almighty

Remembering your Creator is extremely beneficial when it comes to safeguarding oneself from any transgression.

The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم conveyed, “Allah announced, ‘He who remembers Me when angry; I shall mention (protect) him at the time of My wrath, and I shall not destroy him with those who are destroyed.’”[11]

3) Seek Allah Almighty’s refuge

When we face an enemy, the support and encouragement of others bolsters our resolve. To oppose an enemy like the carnal self, ask Allah Almighty for protection and refuge.

Seeing a person in a state of extreme anger, the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم proclaimed, “I know such a statement, that if it were to be said by this enraged individual it would end his anger. It is this: اَللّٰھُمَّ اِنِّیْ اَعُوْذُبِکَ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِیْم.” (O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the accursed Satan)[12]

4) Visualise the punishment of Hell

Before disobeying Allah Almighty and His Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in anger, first remember that the consequence for sin is the Fire of Hell.

Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, “There is a door of Hell; only those whose anger subsided with the displeasure of Allah Almighty shall enter it.”[13]

Imam Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه once said, “O son of Ādam! When you become angry, you begin to jump. Soon, perhaps you will make such a jump that will land you in Hell.”[14]

Shaykh Bakr b. ꜤAbdullāh رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said:

اَطْفِئُوا نَارَ الْغَضَبِ بِذِکْرِ نَارٍ

Extinguish the fire of anger by remembering the Fire of Hell.[15]

5) Reflect upon the virtues and benefits of suppressing anger

Entry into Paradise

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, “Do not become angry and Paradise is yours.”[16]

Light of faith

A hadith mentions: “He who suppressed his anger despite harbouring ability to act upon it; Allah Almighty shall fill his heart with tranquillity and faith.”[17]

Protection from Allah Almighty’s punishment

Anas b. Mālik رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “He who withholds his anger; Allah will withhold His punishment from him on the Day of Judgement.”[18]

Being honoured before all of creation

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, “He who suppresses his anger despite having means to act upon it; Allah shall summon him before the entire creation on the Day of Judgement and give him the choice to select any wide-eyed ḥūr he desires.”[19]

6) Remain silent

When the tongue moves in anger it strikes like a sword, so keep it in check. The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “When one of you feels angry, he should remain silent.”[20]

7) Change position

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم advised, “When a person feels anger and he is standing, he should sit down. If his anger subsides, then that is good. Otherwise, he should lay down.”[21]

8) Perform wudu

Anger is from Satan, and he is created from fire, whilst water extinguishes fire. When a person feels anger, he should perform wudu.[22]

9) Make dua

Dua is the weapon of a believer, so one should utilise it against his carnal self.

The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم instructed Umm Salama رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا to make this dua:

اَللّٰھُمَّ رَبَّ مُحَمَّدِ_نِ النَّبِیِّ اغْفِرْلِیْ ذَنْبِیْ وَاَذْھِبْ غَیْظَ قَلْبِیْ وَاَجِرْنِیْ مِنْ مُّضِلَّاتِ الْفِتَنِ

‘O Allah, Lord of Muhammad! Forgive my sins, remove the anger of my heart, and safeguard me from tribulations that misguide.’”[23]

10) Read the biographies of the pious predecessors

Following in the footsteps of the pious predecessors is a matter of great fortune. One benefit of reading about their lives is that they contain incidents of them suppressing their anger, which teach us profound lessons.

I am not blind

There was once a poor man sitting in the streets of Medina.

 The 2^nd Caliph of Islam, ꜤUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ happened to pass by and accidentally stepped on his foot. The poor man became upset and yelled, “O person! Are you blind?” Sayyiduna ꜤUmar رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ graciously responded, “Brother, I am not blind, but I have definitely made a mistake. Please forgive me.”

After relating this incident, Shaykh SꜤadī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه comments:

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه How pure was the character of our pious predecessors! If the other person was weak, their demeanour would become gentle. The truth is that every truly high-ranking person is humble and will be a source of comfort for others. Their example is like a tree whose branches bend more as it bears more fruit. The fortunate who are gentle and kind towards the weak will be joyful on the Day of Judgement, but the arrogant will only face embarrassment.[24]

May Allah Almighty grant us the spiritual strength to control our anger.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ