How do I control anger as a Muslim?
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The strong one is not the one who overpowers — it is the one who controls himself when angry.' His specific remedies are concrete and workable.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
Control anger by recognizing it as a trait of the soul to be disciplined, not indulged. The page opens with the Prophet's ﷺ teaching that real strength is not overpowering others but controlling oneself when angry. Al-Ghazali, in Patience & Gratitude, frames restraint as patience — "in refraining from prohibitions" — and notes that some people are naturally quick to anger. His vivid remedy: were an angry person to see the ugliness of his own face in that state, his anger would subside. He praises those known for forgiveness and restraint.
- Patience in performing Allah's obligations
- Patience in refraining from prohibitions
- Patience through hardship
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"is better than patience with them, and patience with them is better than patience with the fire."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Al-Shibli said, Patience in God, and was told no, Patience for God, and was told no, Patience"
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"in three forms, patience in performing Allah's obligations, patience in refraining from prohibitions,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Were an angry person to see the ugliness of his image during his anger, his anger would"
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"of people known for their patience and forgiveness and the praiseworthy acts of restraining anger,"
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"Some people by nature are predisposed to quick anger as if anger were an inherent characteristic."
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"to emulate the great, thereby exciting anger in the heart. This labeling of anger as self-esteem"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Since patience is one of the pillars of maintaining repentance, it is necessary to explain patience,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"is anger when contradicted in front of people. If he denies his anger, Satan quickly suggests to"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"anger for the sake of Allah Almighty. One may become angry at a wrong committed by someone else"
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