Control Your Anger
The teaching that true strength lies in controlling oneself during moments of anger.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: 'The strong person is not the one who wrestles others; the strong person is the one who controls himself when angry.' This hadith redefines strength from physical dominance to emotional mastery. Anger is natural, but acting on it destructively shows weakness, not strength. The Prophet advised sitting down if angry while standing, lying down if still angry, and making wudu to cool the fire. Modern anger management confirms that self-control during anger prevents regrettable actions and maintains relationships.
The strong person is not the one who wrestles others; the strong person is the one who controls himself when angry.
The Prophet (PBUH) also taught: 'Anger comes from Satan, and Satan was created from fire. Fire is extinguished by water, so when angry, make wudu.'
Sahih Bukhari
Written about in
- What Islam says about forgiveness
Forgiving another person begins before anything is said. The hadith redefines strength as self-control in anger, and the advice attached to it is physical — sit if you are standing, lie down if the anger holds, perform wudu. Islam treats rage as something to cool, not to reason with.