Controlling Rage

In the Qur’an, the control of anger is described as exemplary behavior since it hinders harmful reactions likely caused by it.

Those who give in times of both ease and hardship, those who control their rage and pardon other people—Allah loves the good-doers. (Surah Al ‘Imran; 134)

Although rage may surface as an instant reaction in particular situations, a believer should comply with the description in this verse by controlling it.

That is because rage clouds one’s mind and hinders sound reasoning. In such a case, a person runs the risk of transgressing the limits of Allah, since the emotional judgments he makes under the influence of anger will usually be rash and incompatible with Qur’anic ethics.

A believer must immediately strive to overcome resentment he feels pertaining to personal matters, especially toward other believers, and try to replace it with compassion and mercy.

If a person’s anger is based on unjust grounds, then he has no right to be furious in the first place. He must accept his mistake, apologize and make up for his misbehavior.

But even if he was in the right, he must still control anger, and in compliance with the verse, it is better to forgive.

What has been related so far concerns the mundane situations believers are likely to encounter.

Apart from these there is a group of people who become angry at the least provocation. They actually fail to grasp some basic faith-related issues, such as putting one’s trust in Allah or recognizing the fact that all people are under His control.

In the Qur’an Allah reveals:

Everything in the heavens and the earth belong to Allah. He knows what you are engaged upon. On the Day when they are returned to Him, He will inform them of what they did. Allah has knowledge of all things.(Surat An-Nur:64)