anger encompasses every evil.”1

Many statements have been transmitted from the righteous predecessors, may Allah have mercy on them, warning against anger and explaining its dire consequences. Jafar ibn Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Anger is the key to every evil.”

Abd Allah ibn al-Mubārak, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked, “Sum up good character for us in a single phrase.” He replied, “Refraining from anger.”

Umar ibn Abd al-Azīz, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Whoever is protected from caprice, anger, and greed has truly succeeded.”

It was commonly said, “Anger begins in madness and ends in regret.” It was also said, “Anger is the enemy of reason,” and, “All ruin lies in anger.”

Since anger is so dangerous, every Muslim must beware of it and strive against himself to keep away from it, so that he may be spared its consequences and effects.

The Prophet’s words in the aforementioned hadith, “Do not become angry,” peace and blessings be upon him, encompass two great directives for protection from anger and its consequences.

The first is the command to adopt the appropriate means and train oneself in good character, forbearance, patience, and bearing the verbal and physical harm inflicted by others. If a servant is granted success in this, then whenever a surge of anger comes upon him, he will contain it through his good character and meet it with forbearance and patience.

One of the established legal maxims is that a command to do something is also a command to do everything without which it cannot be accomplished, while the prohibition of something is a command to do its opposite. Thus, the Prophet’s prohibition against anger, peace and blessings be upon him, entails a command to exercise patience, forbearance, and good character.