Anger is a weapon, not to be misused

Anger is a weapon, not to be misused

 

Hadhrat Imam Ghazali (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) says:  The Lord Almighty created anger as a weapon of humankind and to save it from things which are harmful for it, the way desires are created for humankind to get what they need.

 

A human being has no other recourse except these two – anger and desire.

 

However, when they exceed the limits of moderation, they will become like a fire in the heart, the fumes of which clog the mind and overwhelm the intellect.  Then that kind of person cannot be foresighted.

 

The condition of such a person is like a cave which is full of smoke and this is a really bad condition.  For this reason, the elders have named anger as: The fall of intelligence.

 

If this anger is weak, even then it is bad.  This is because anger is what makes one spirited for one’s religion and one’s dignity.

 

For this reason, anger should neither be too strong nor too weak.  It should be in moderation and as per the precepts of the Shariah.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has said:  A strong person is not one who defeats his opponent in a bout.  Instead, a strong person is the one who can control himself (or herself) when angry.

 

[Excerpted from Mawaaiz-e-Hasana]