This is part two of the series I have been working on on anger.
The first article is entitled: “Islam and Anger Management (Part 1): What is your level of anger?“
Anger is something that happens to all of us. Prophet Jesus (s) was angered by the money changers in the Temple. Prophet Moses (s) was angered when he came down from the mountain, and found the tribes engaging in idolatry. Even the Prophet Muhammad (s) got angry at times–though very rarely. For example, in a hadith (Sahih Al-Bukhari, volume 8 #134), Zaid bin Thabit reports the following:
Allah’s Apostle made a small room (with a palm leaf mat). Allah’s Apostle came out (of his house) and prayed in it. Some men came and joined him in his prayer. Then again the next night they came for the prayer, but Allah’s Apostle delayed and did not come out to them. So they raised their voices and knocked the door with small stones (to draw his attention). He came out to them in a state of anger, saying, “You are still insisting (on your deed, i.e. Tarawih prayer in the mosque) that I thought that this prayer (Tarawih) might become obligatory on you. So you people, offer this prayer at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is the one which he offers at home, except the compulsory (congregational) prayer.â€
Here are some techniques for controlling one’s anger.
1. Relaxation
Relaxation can be accomplished very easily through breathing deeply, and can, Insha Allah, help control and then soothe your anger.
Here are some simple steps:
* Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm; breathing from your chest won’t relax you. Picture your breath coming up from your “gut.â€
* Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as “relax,†“take it easy†or even “Laa ilaaha ilallah (There is no God except Allah).†Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply.
* Recite the following du’as:
(1) “I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.†(A`oodhu billahi mina ash-shaytaani ar-rajeem). This du’a comes from the following agreed upon hadith: Sulaiman b. Sard said, “I was sitting with the Prophet (s) when two men abused each other and one of them became so angry that his face became swollen and changed. The Prophet (s) said, ‘I know a word that that will cause him to relax, and this is, “I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.†(If he said these words) his anger will cool down.’ (Reported in Sahih Muslim and Bukhari)
(2) Allaahumma innee a`oodhu bika min hamazaati ash-shayaateen; wa a`oodhu bika rabbi an yahdhuroonee (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the whisperings of devils; and I seek refuge in You from their presence around me).
(3) Astaghfiru Allah (I ask Allah for forgiveness) three times.
(4) Rabbi qinee sharra nafsee; rabbi qinee sharra sam`ee; rabbi qinee sharra basaree; rabbi qinee sharaa lisaanee (My Lord, save me from the evils of my own self; my Lord, save me from the evils of my hearing; my Lord, save me from the evils of my seeing; my Lord, save me from the evils of my tongue.) You can also simply make the following tasbeeh: Subhaan Allah, al-hamdu lillah, laa ilaha illa Allah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa bi-llah (Sublime is Allah; praise be to Allah; there is no god but Allah; there is no power or strength except by the will of Allah).â€
* Visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination. I find that visualizing the Kabbah or Masjid An Nabawi or even a very beautiful landscape works for me.
* Practice these techniques daily until they become automatic when you’re in a tense situation.
MOHAMMAD ABDUS SALAM SONY
WWW.ZILHAJJTRAVELS.COM
WWW.REALESTATE-BD.COM