Do you need an incentive for dealing with anger? The Quran constructs a unique argument that helps the one dealing with anger Issues and a better perspective to dealing with anger.

Allah builds an amazing argument for dealing with anger in the Quran. In Surah Al Shura, Starting from ayah 36. Allah Says:

36 What you have been given is only the fleeting enjoyment of this world. Far better and more lasting is what God will give to those who truly believe and place their trust exclusively in their master;

36. Fama ooteetum min shay-in fa mataAAu alhayati alddunya wama AAinda Allahi khayrun waabqa lillatheena amanoo waAAala rabbihim yatawakkaloona

The word "mataa" highlighted refers to something that is used but not neccessarily enjoyed. The ancient arab would call a brush or a broom mataa... Things we use but are really insignificant. Allah describes the whole of the world as being that insignificant, and we get hung up on these things. Sometimes, we worry about these things and when we lose them, we think it is the end of the world.

It is not the end of the world, whatever you have been given is just "mataa", something you use but do not necessarily enjoy, something insignificant. The whole world is Mataa, something for you to use to achieve a higher purpose but it should not be something you get so attached or depressed over. The thing to enjoy is the next life, So Allah says (roughly translated):

.... Far better and more lasting is what God will give to those who truly believe and place their trust exclusively in their master;

Allah tells you that what he has is better, not only that, It is also longer lasting... What Allah is telling us here is that in this world,whatever you have, Allah has something better

I. You have a house, Allah has a better house
ii. You have clothes, Allah has better clothes
iii. You have a ride, Allah has a better ride
iv. You have a youth, health or wealth, Allah will give you better.
v. You have company, Allah will give you better company

The lesson here is that, do not get caught up in these things because what Allah has is far better and remember as great as these things are, Allah has better.

Not only are they better, they are also longer lasting. Everything you have in this world is temporary, you have a house, it starts deteriorating, your new car will start having problems, your health starts deteriorating, you have friends, you drift apart. whatever you have in this world, does not last.

Allah is presenting the argument and asking us to work for something better and longer lasting. But who is this for?? The same ayah continues:

....those who truly believe and place their trust exclusively in their master;

When Allah mentions believers here, it is not just talking about belief in general, It is specific to the ayah. Allah is talking about those who truly believe that the things in this world are fleeting, and believe that what Allah has, is better and longer lasting. The ayah continues:

... and place their trust exclusively in their master;

What this implies is that, It takes a lot of trust to really, really believe in What Allah is offering you in the next life. This is something you have not seen, touched or smelt, Something you have only heard about. Those people who trust Allah based on his word and truly believe the next life is better and longer lasting. It takes belief and trust in Allah.

You might be worrying what this has to do with Anger, but Allah is building an argument, In the Next Ayah 37, Allah continues:

37 those are the people who shun great sins and all forms of shamelessness; and when they are angry, they forgive;

37. Waallatheena yajtaniboona kaba-ira al-ithmi waalfawahisha wa-itha ma ghadiboo hum yaghfiroona

Allah talks about the people who realise that the entire world is utility and prefer the next life over this one as those who shun great sins. There are major sins and minor sins, Your priority first is to stay away away from the major sins, Work on the major sins first. Then Allah says that they stay away from all forms of shamelessness.

Then Allah says: When they get angry...

Before going further, let's examine how the argument is built:

I. Allah first tells us that these people realise this world is nothing compared to the next:

If this world is everything you have, when things go wrong in this world, You get angry. However, if things go badly in this world and you realise that this world is nothing compared to the next, you are not so worked up about it. It is easy for you to say: Inna lilahi wa inna ilehi rajiun...( No doubt to Allah we belong and to Him is our eventual return). It is easy for you to calm down.

This only happens when you really internalize the first lesson.

II. Then Allah talks about shunning major sins and of all the major sins, shamelessness is highlighted... So what is shamelessness here? It refers to the inability to control your desires. you have an urge and you do it. You have an urge to see something and you do not hold back, you look at it. You have an urge to go somewhere, you can't hold yourself back, You have an urge to be with someone, you do it. You do not hold back whether it pleases Allah or not.

When you lose control over these urges, when it comes to your anger, you will be out of control too... The one who is shameless is also the one who has no control of their temper.

The one who can guard their shame and control these urges, which are far stronger will find it easier to control their anger. All of us have temptations and we face them all the time. If you can hold your self back from that. Holding your self back from anger is so much easier.

then what does Allah say in this ayah:

....and when they are angry, they forgive

Allah does not say, when they get angry, they calm down... Allah says : They forgive...

It is one thing to get angry and calm down, that is hard enough.. It is another to forgive...

Now imagine this, Someone makes you really, really upset, Allah says that those who really trust Allah and want the next life over this one. when they are really angry, that is when they forgive. Subhanallah... We do not even forgive when we are calm. We are to learn to forgive when we are angry if we really prefer the next life over this one...

These are the kinds of high standards set for us by Allah.

But this is not compulsory by the way, this is for people of the highest calibre. (may Allah help us reach that level)

We are allowed to get angry and seek justice in Islam, Allah addresses this in ayah 40:

Let harm be requited by an equal harm, though anyone who forgives and puts things right will have his reward from God Himself– He does not like those who do wrong. (Surah 42:40)

Allah allows us to seek justice for harm done against us through the system, but also gives us an incredible incentive to forgive and reconcile. Allah says that this person, that forgives and reconciles inspite of his anger would get his reward from Allah, himself. The reward is so immense for forgiving and letting go, that Allah just says: He will get his reward from Allah, himself...

What reason do you have to get angry after this?

Assalam aleikum

Abû Hurayrah relates that a man said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Counsel me.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Do not get angry.” The man repeated his request many times, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) kept saying: “Do not get angry.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî ]

^tbaba the philosopher. When is your book coming out? Run a scan through your OP and replace the word "utility" with "futility" an error you didn't notice I know.

By the way, your article makes sense especially the forgiving when you're angry part. I guess I can try it out if the offender shows remorse.

maclatunji: ^tbaba the philosopher. When is your book coming out? Run a scan through your OP and replace the word "utility" with "futility" an error you didn't notice I know.

I am not a philosopher, i just regurgitate what i learn from more knowledgeable people. That's all.

Utility is the correct word... Meaning: Useful, esp. through being able to perform several functions

I am simply saying that the whole world is just something to be used to achieve a greater aim.

maclatunji: By the way, your article makes sense especially the forgiving when you're angry part. I guess I can try it out if the offender shows remorse.

The ayah is not conditional but i guess that is a start...

tbaba1234:

I am not a philosopher, i just regurgitate what i learn from more knowledgeable people. That's all.

Utility is the correct word... Meaning: Useful, esp. through being able to perform several functions

I am simply saying that the whole world is just something to be used to achieve a greater aim.

Ok, but a bit one kind in my opinion. I would prefer "transient" or "ephemeral" within that context followed by a detailed explanation of this point. Not-so-spiritually inclined people will just say: Yeah! This world is great! Let's live it to the max!

tbaba1234: The ayah is not conditional but i guess that is a start...

You are the one that said what the ayah says we should do is not compulsory. I am not in a "freely forgiving" mood O. Yes! I won't hate but forgiveness is another thing.

maclatunji:
You are the one that said what the ayah says we should do is not compulsory. I am not in a "freely forgiving" mood O. Yes! I won't hate but forgiveness is another thing.

You should strive to attain the level of the best of people but not everyone can do it.

tbaba1234:

You should strive to attain the level of the best of people but not everyone can do it.

*Initiating striving mode*

Good

Waste of space

@mamu, do U̶̲̥̅̊ say nofin cn b gain 4rm †ђξ write up, well may G̶̲̥̅̊​o̶̲̥̅̊​d̶̲̥̅̊ 4gv us al aΩ̴̩̩̩̥d̶̲̥̅̊ mk †ђξ spirit of 4gvness b part of our bdy. If we cn 4gv 1 aΩ̴̩̩̩̥d̶̲̥̅̊ oda  dnt tink dia wld b any misundastanding among us. Maa salam

tbaba1234: Do you need an incentive for dealing with anger? The Quran constructs a unique argument that helps the one dealing with anger Issues and a better perspective to dealing with anger.

Allah builds an amazing argument for dealing with anger in the Quran. In Surah Al Shura, Starting from ayah 36. Allah Says:

36 What you have been given is only the fleeting enjoyment of this world. Far better and more lasting is what God will give to those who truly believe and place their trust exclusively in their master;

36. Fama ooteetum min shay-in fa mataAAu alhayati alddunya wama AAinda Allahi khayrun waabqa lillatheena amanoo waAAala rabbihim yatawakkaloona


Allah tells you that what he has is better, not only that, It is also longer lasting... What Allah is telling us here is that in this world,whatever you have, Allah has something better

I. You have a house, Allah has a better house
ii. You have clothes, Allah has better clothes
iii. You have a ride, Allah has a better ride
iv. You have a youth, health or wealth, Allah will give you better.
v. You have company, Allah will give you better company

The lesson here is that, do not get caught up in these things because what Allah has is far better and remember as great as these things are, Allah has better.

Not only are they better, they are also longer lasting. Everything you have in this world is temporary, you have a house, it starts deteriorating, your new car will start having problems, your health starts deteriorating, you have friends, you drift apart. whatever you have in this world, does not last.



What this implies is that, It takes a lot of trust to really, really believe in What Allah is offering you in the next life. This is something you have not seen, touched or smelt, Something you have only heard about. Those people who trust Allah based on his word and truly believe the next life is better and longer lasting. It takes belief and trust in Allah.

You might be worrying what this has to do with Anger, but Allah is building an argument, In the Next Ayah 37, Allah continues:

37 those are the people who shun great sins and all forms of shamelessness; and when they are angry, they forgive;

37. Waallatheena yajtaniboona kaba-ira al-ithmi waalfawahisha wa-itha ma ghadiboo hum yaghfiroona

Allah talks about the people who realise that the entire world is utility and prefer the next life over this one as those who shun great sins. There are major sins and minor sins, Your priority first is to stay away away from the major sins, Work on the major sins first. Then Allah says that they stay away from all forms of shamelessness.

Then Allah says: When they get angry...

Before going further, let's examine how the argument is built:

I. Allah first tells us that these people realise this world is nothing compared to the next:

If this world is everything you have, when things go wrong in this world, You get angry. However, if things go badly in this world and you realise that this world is nothing compared to the next, you are not so worked up about it. It is easy for you to say: Inna lilahi wa inna ilehi rajiun...( No doubt to Allah we belong and to Him is our eventual return). It is easy for you to calm down.

This only happens when you really internalize the first lesson.

II. Then Allah talks about shunning major sins and of all the major sins, shamelessness is highlighted... So what is shamelessness here? It refers to the inability to control your desires. you have an urge and you do it. You have an urge to see something and you do not hold back, you look at it. You have an urge to go somewhere, you can't hold yourself back, You have an urge to be with someone, you do it. You do not hold back whether it pleases Allah or not.

When you lose control over these urges, when it comes to your anger, you will be out of control too... The one who is shameless is also the one who has no control of their temper.

The one who can guard their shame and control these urges, which are far stronger will find it easier to control their anger. All of us have temptations and we face them all the time. If you can hold your self back from that. Holding your self back from anger is so much easier.

Allah does not say, when they get angry, they calm down... Allah says : They forgive...

May Allah make it easy for us muslims( from threads here on nairaland to the streets in northern Nigeria) to be calm and peaceful especialy when provoked. That is indeed best for us.

A Reminder

wow.

the presentation is superb.