غَضَب
Anger
Ghadab
Definition
Ghadab is uncontrolled anger that leads a person to say or do things they later regret. While some anger for Allah's sake is praiseworthy, excessive anger for personal matters is a disease that stems from pride and love of self. The Prophet described the strong person as one who controls themselves in anger.
Signs & Symptoms
- 1Quick to become angry over minor issues
- 2Saying hurtful things in anger that you later regret
- 3Physical aggression or destruction of property when angry
- 4Holding grudges and refusing to forgive
- 5Becoming angry when corrected or disagreed with
- 6Feeling justified in anger even when it causes harm
Dangers & Consequences
- Anger opens the door to major sins - murder, divorce, breaking ties
- It is from Shaytan, who was created from fire
- It distorts judgment and leads to regrettable decisions
- It harms the body physically and spiritually
- It destroys families and communities
Quranic Warnings
وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And those who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good.”
وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ
“And when they are angry, they forgive.”
Prophetic Guidance
Narrated by Abu Hurairah
لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ
“The strong man is not the one who can wrestle, but the strong man is the one who controls himself at the time of anger.”
Narrated by Abu Hurairah
لَا تَغْضَبْ
“A man asked the Prophet for advice and he said: "Do not become angry." The man repeated his question several times and each time the Prophet replied: "Do not become angry."”
Narrated by Atiyyah as-Sadi
“Anger is from Satan, and Satan was created from fire, and fire is only extinguished with water. So when one of you becomes angry, let him perform wudu.”
Stories of the Righteous
Learn from those who came before
Steps to Cure Anger
Dua for Cure
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Recite this dua regularly and with sincerity
Sources & References
5 sources cited on this page