Mouood Mouood English Edition
Damages of Anger
Anger causes gross damages that harm individuals and communities, physically and mentally, materially and morally. A single state of anger often injured the emotions, charged the spirits with hatred, and split the handles of mutual amicability. Moreover, it often threw people in jails, exposed them to perditions, aroused wars, and shed blood of thousands of innocent people. What is more is the mental crises and tragedies most of which end with sudden death.
After all, anger changes man into a furious volcano whose flames are rage and evils. Thus, you see the tongue of the angry speak vulgar language and words of disgracing, and see his hands set for beating or even killing. This is in case the angry controls his rival completely. If not, the calamities of anger reflect on the angry; therefore, you see him tear his dress, slap his head, and, in some cases, practice insane deeds, such as reviling at beasts and beating on the solid things.
Anger between Praise and Censure
Anger is a significant instinct that excites in man the spirit of zeal and disdain and stirs up the spirits of sacrifice for the sake of the noble aims, such as defending the belief and protecting the souls, fortunes, and dignities. When a man misses such an instinct, he becomes the subject of humility. It is said: “He who does not feel angry when infuriated is surely donkey.”
As a conclusion, the abominable anger is the excessive that takes away from moderation and challenges the regulations of the intellect and the Sharia. The moderate anger, on the other side, is an honored virtue strengthening man and restoring the morale.
Treatment of Anger
• If the incentive of anger is a physical disorder or a nervous depression, such like the states of the sick, the old, and the emaciated, the treatment should be clinical means, strengthening of the public health, and availability of the physical and mental rest, such as following a certain regime of nutrition, commitment to cleanness, and practice of suitable physical exercises and muscular relaxation. Finally, such individuals should keep off any matter that exhausts the mentality or the body, such as mental stress, sleeplessness, submission to depression, and other incentives of agitation.
• Anger does not occur arbitrarily. There are definite reasons that agitate it, such as excessive selfishness, disputation, mocking, gibing, and injurious joking. In such cases, the treatment should be to avoid such reasons as much as possible.
• To remember the disadvantages, dangers, and sins of anger, and to keep in mind that anger harms the angry more than the others this may help in its treatment. It may happen that a trivial matter arouses an uncontrollable state of anger. A psychoanalyst says: “Leave the idea of retaliating on your enemies, because this causes you harm more than that which you intend for your enemies. When we bear malice against our enemies, we grant them the opportunity to overcome us. In fact, our enemies would dance delightedly if they knew the scope of worry that they cause to us. The malice that we bear against them does not harm them. As a matter of fact, it harms us and changes our days and nights into hell.” Hence, it is necessary to keep in mind the advantages of clemency:
“If you replace evil habits by virtuous ones, you will certainly find that your enemies will become your intimate friends. Only those who exercise patience and who have been granted a great share of Allah’s favor can find such an opportunity.” (41:34-5)”
• The influence and criminal motives of anger expose to the wrath and punishment of God. Imam as-Sadiq (a) said:
“Allah revealed to one of His prophets: Son of Adam 19! Remember Me in your states of anger so that I will remember you in My wrath and will not crush you with those whom I will crush. Consider Me as your supporter, for My support to you is better than your own support 20.”
• It is better to postpone the temporary inducements of anger until its vehemence fades away. This may achieve relaxation and regain reason. It, however, can be achieved only by means of self-control and temperance.
Amirul-Mu’minin (a) said: “If you are not clement, you should try to be it. He who imitates a people shall be one of them 21.”
• The following practices help in the treatment for anger: seeking God’s guard against the Devil, sitting or laying down when standing or sitting, practicing the ablution or washing the face with cold water, and touching the hand of the relative who is the object of anger.
Notes:
1. Quoted from Sheikh al-Mufid; al-Majalis.
2. Quoted from Nahj ul-Balagha.
3. Quoted from al-Kafi.
4. Quoted from al-Kafi.
5. Quoted from al-Kafi.
6. Quoted from al-Kafi.
7. Quoted from Al-Arbali; Keshf ul-Ghumma.
8. Quoted from Sheikh as-Saduq; Me’aani al-Akhbar and Uyounu Akhbar ir-Redha.
9. Quoted from Safinat ul-Bihar; vol. 1.
10. Bibi Aisha was the Prophet’s widow who mutinied and led an army against Amir ul-Mu’minin (a) and rode a camel due to which that battle was called the Battle of the Camel. She, however, lost that battle and was captured by Imam Ali’s army.
11. Quoted from al-Aqqad, Abbas Mahmoud; The Genius of Imam Ali.
12. Quoted from al-Arbali; Keshf ul-Ghumma.
13. Quoted from al-Arbali; Keshf ul-Ghumma.
14. Quoted from Bihar ul-Anwar; 11 as quoted from I’lam ul- Wara and al-Irshad
15. Quoted from al-Kafi.
16. Quoted from Nahj ul-Balagha.
17. Quoted from Nahj ul-Balagha.
18. Quoted from al-Kafi.
19. Son of Adam is a famous expression that refers to man.
20. Quoted from al-Kafi.
21. Quoted from Nahj ul-Balagha.
