How do I overcome anger in Islam?
The Prophet's ﷺ three-word answer — "Do not be angry" — is the starting point. The classical scholars then mapped the practical steps: what to recite, what to do with the body, and what to remember about the self.
10 passages from 7 books in the library
Al-Ghazali offers concrete, bodily remedies for anger alongside inner reflection. In Book 25 he relates the prophetic practice that when one is angry while standing he should sit, and if sitting, lie down, so the anger subsides. He urges the angry person to picture himself in that state, noting that "were an angry person to see the ugliness of his image during his anger, his anger would" leave him. He warns that some are naturally quick to anger and that Satan dresses anger up as "self-esteem." Praiseworthy anger, by contrast, is only that which is for the sake of Allah.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 7 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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"Were an angry person to see the ugliness of his image during his anger, his anger would"
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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"
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"angry while standing, he would sit down, and if he was sitting, he would lie down, and his anger"
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"
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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"therein. His anger and His disobedience, so do not undervalue any of them, as His anger may lie"
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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"The utmost reaction is to dislike, become angry, and show anger sincerely, not pretentiously,"
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-Hajjaj's face grew angry, and he rose from his throne in anger and entered a room behind"
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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"of his anger until it was restored, and he did not get angry for himself nor seek vengeance"
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