Controlling Anger: Rewards

(1) The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Whoever controls his anger, Allah will protect him from his punishment.”

[Ibn Abi Dunya, #21 and Iraaqi said it is Hassan in Al Mughni #2862 and Ibn Hajar agreed in Matalibul Aaliyah #3144]

(2) The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever suppresses his rage while able to unleash it, Allah will call him before the heads of creation on Qiyamah and inform that he can choose any of the Hoorul Ayn that he likes"

[Tirmidhi #2021 and Hassan] & another version says, "..then Allah will fill his heart with contentment on the day of judgment."
[Tabarani, 12/453 and Sahih according to Sahih al Jami’, #6518]

Al Mubarakfuri said that this applies to the one who can enact an action of anger and Ali al Qari commented, "If this is the reward for merely suppressing one's rage, then what about the one who joins that with pardoning his offender and adds ihsan towards him?"
[Tuhfatul Ahwadhi]

(3) The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was asked what deed can distance one from the anger of Allah and he replied, "Do not become angry."

[Musnad Ahmad, 2/175 & Sahih according to Ibn Hibban in Al Ihsan]

In another narration of Tirmidhi [Majma' al Zawa'id, 8/70],

Abu Darda' ra asked, "Oh Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, show me an action that will enter me into Jannah" and he said, "Do not become angry and Jannah is yours."

* The Sahabi Humayd Ibn Abdirahman ra said, "I reflected on this hadith and it struck me that anger comprises all of evil."

(Jami' ulum wal Hikm, 234)

* A man asked Ibnul Mubarak to summarise all of good character into one phrase and he replied, "Give up anger"

(Jami' ulum wal Hikm, 234) & Imam Ahmad, Ishaq bin Rahawayh and others explained that good character is in controlling ones anger.

Ata' Ibn Abi Rabah said, "Nothing makes the people of knowledge weep at the end of their lives more than a fit of anger which ruins their work of 50, 60 or 70 years..."
(Narrated in the Mawsu'at of Ibn Abi Dunya)

* Ibn Rajab al Hanbali explained "not getting angry" to be: "...It means that you should not act in accordance with your anger and instead struggle with yourself to give up putting it into effect and acting by what it commands."

(Jami' ulum wal Hikm, 234)

* What should one do when he is angry to attain these rewards? Follow these steps in order:

[1] Respond to the one making you angry with good: As Ali al Qari explained, the reward is far greater when one responds with good. Hasan al Basri would make du'a ffor those people behaving ill towards him so much that his companions would say to him, "Oh Hasan, I wish to oppress you just so you make the same du'a for me as you do for those who oppress you."

[2] If you cannot do that, then seek refuge from Shaytan and make Wudoo' without acting upon your anger as many authentic ahadith tell us.

[3] If you cannot do the second option, then do not speak or act upon your anger: A marfu' narration from Ibn Abbas states, "When you become angry, say nothing" (Musnad Ahmad, 1/239) and Ibn Rajab said about this, "This is a great remedy for anger because words he utters in anger he will regret but if he is silent, all of it will pass him. Al Ijlee said, "I have never filled up right and spoken in anger that which i will later regret. This shows that the angry person is charged with the responsibility of being silent and not speaking."

(Jamiulum wal Hikm, 237 - 242)