Do you get angry? I know that I do at times. Indeed, I would suggest that most of us find this a troublesome emotion that is difficult to control. Fortunately, a Sufi Master, a master of the heart, has given us supreme guidance for reining in this difficult emotion.

Anger is actually called a spiritual disease. It is an illness that can blacken our heart and veil us from direct experience of our Lord.

Here is an excerpt from the book Divine Governance Of the Human Kingdom written by the great Sufi Master ibn Arabi. I hope you find it helpful.

If you wish to find the truth and have God (Allah’s) pleasure and support in it, then avoid being negative and control your temper and anger. If you cannot stop anger, at least do not show it. When you do this, you will please Allah and disappoint the devil.

You will begin to educate your ego and straighten and shorten your path. Anger is a result and a sign of the ego not being under control, like a mean wild animal untied and uncaged. As you hold your temper, it is as if you put a bridle on its head and barriers around it. You begin then to tame it, teach it how to behave, to obey, so that it cannot hurt others or itself (because it is a part of you).

When this discipline reflects from you, revealing someone who can control his temper and hold his anger, your adversary will be calmed. You will not be reacting to his provocations. You will not be punishing him or responding to his negativity, but ignoring it. This is more effective than punishing him. He may be led to see the reality of his acts, to realize what is fair, and to confess his faults. Give heed to this advice and make it

a habit. If you do, you certainly will see the positive result and the rewards here and in the hereafter. You will be the winner on the day when your deeds will be weighed. That is the greatest reward and the greatest grace that you will receive.

For if you hold your temper, the All Just will also hold back His punishment for your sins, which are punishable by His divine wrath. Your forgiving will be rewarded by His forgiving you. What better benefit may one expect for effort in bearing hardship caused by your brothers and sisters in faith? Allah will treat you the way He has ordered you to treat others.

So try to assume the good qualities of being just, peaceful, helpful, gentle, and loving. Persist in these qualities; act with them. You will see that this character will spread from you to others around you, creating harmony, mutual love, and respect. The Beloved of Allah, our master the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), orders us to love each other, to be in a continuous loving state. He repeats this in so many ways, in so many statements. To leave anger, to replace it with bearing hardship, with forgiving, with caring for the one who causes the hardship, is one of the cornerstones of the foundation of love.

Restraining one’s anger is one of the highest causes that lead to mutual love.

The holy Prophet Muhammed may peace be upon him, described in many times how to overcome anger. We outline here some of his sayings, may peace be upon him:

The Holy Messenger (peace be upon him) has said, after seeing two people angry at one another: “I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away; he needs to say ‘I seek refuge with Allah from the shaytaan,’ and all his anger would go away.” (Sahih Bukhaari: Volume 6, 337)

The Holy Messenger (peace be upon him) has said: “Anger is a smoldering ember that is kindled by Satan.” (Biharul Anwar: Volume 73, Page 265)

The Holy Messenger (peace be upon him) has said: “Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire is extinguished only by water; so when one of you becomes angry, he should perform ablution.” (Abu Dawud: Book 41, Number 4766)

(peace be upon him) has said: “Rage is a type of madness because the one who is enraged feels regret later on, and if he does not feel regret, then his madness has become ingrained.” (Nahjul Balagha: Saying 255)

The Holy Messenger (peace be upon him) has said: “Shall I tell you who is the toughest and strongest from among you? The one who controls himself when he is angry.” (Natharul Durrar: Volume 1, Page 183)

Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) has said: “He who suppresses his anger despite being able to vent it, Allah (swt) will fill his heart with peace and security on the Day of Resurrection.” (Al-Kafi: Volume 2, Page 11, Number 7)

The Holy Messenger (peace be upon him) has said: “If any one of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.”(Al-Musnad: Volume 1, 329 (for more, see Saheeh Al-Jami’: Volume 693, 4027))

The Holy Messenger (peace be upon him) has said: “Do not get angry and if you do, then sit down and reflect upon the power of your Lord over His creation and His clemency towards

them. And if one tells you [condescendingly] to fear Allah, expel your anger and remind yourself of your own clemency.” (Tuhaf al Uqul: Number 16)