Islam provides comprehensive guidance on managing anger and dealing with those who have wronged us:
"وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ"
"Who restrain anger and pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good."
Qur'an
Surah Al-Imran 3:134
Ibn Kathir explains: "Al-Kadhimina Al-Ghaydh (who repress anger) means they do not act upon their anger. Rather, they are patient and forbearing. Al-'Afina 'an An-Nas (who pardon people) means they forgive those who treat them with injustice."
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
At-Tabari notes: "This verse describes the qualities of the righteous believers. They control their anger when provoked, and go beyond that to forgive and pardon others, seeking Allah's pleasure."
Tafsir At-Tabari
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also provided practical guidance:
"إِذَا غَضِبَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَسْكُتْ"
"When one of you becomes angry, let him remain silent."
Sahih
Musnad Ahmad 21354 | Verified by Al-Albani
Imam An-Nawawi explains: "Silence during anger is recommended because when a person is angry, they may say words they will regret later. The tongue is often the source of many problems during moments of anger."
Wisdom: Silence prevents the escalation of conflict and allows time for emotions to cool down, leading to better decision-making.
Practical Steps:
- Seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan (A'oodhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajeem)
- Change your physical position (if standing, sit down; if sitting, lie down)
- Perform wudu (ablution) as it cools anger
- Remember the rewards for controlling anger and forgiving others
- Make du'a for the person who wronged you, as this purifies your heart
"وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ"
"The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah."
Qur'an
Surah Ash-Shura 42:40
Qurtubi explains: "While Allah permits just retaliation, He strongly encourages forgiveness. The phrase 'his reward is with Allah' indicates that the reward for forgiveness is greater than any worldly satisfaction from revenge."
Tafsir Al-Qurtubi
Key Lesson: Forgiveness is not weakness, but spiritual strength that brings one closer to Allah and earns His special reward.
Islamic teachings emphasize that controlling anger and forgiving others are among the highest moral qualities. Both the Qur'an and Sunnah provide a complete framework: divine commandment (Qur'an), prophetic guidance (Hadith), scholarly interpretation (Tafsir), and practical implementation steps.
