A man came to the Prophet Muhammad and asked him, “O Prophet, I seek advice!” the Prophet replied: “Don’t get angry.”

Then the man asked him, “What else?” The Prophet Muhammad replied for the second time: “Don’t get angry.” The man asked again “what else?”, and the reply again was “Don’t get angry.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Anger is one of the major things that could cause a relationship to go sour. Anger stokes a quarrel, which, if pursued, leads to personal dislike, and finally, to full-fledged hatred. Hatred eventually leads to evil. In any relationship, any trouble is exacerbated by anger. Anger is a natural phenomenon, and the only solution is to control it.

Anger in itself is not evil. It becomes evil when it is allowed to spin out of control and affect people’s lives.

Rage is an undesirable reaction to a temporary provocation. It is much like a fire that flares up for a short while and then dies down for lack of fuel. If we understand this, anger will not result in any serious disharmony.

An unpleasant word or experience can make the fire in our mind suddenly flare up, but it only lasts for a short while. When we are angry, we should remain quiet, and try to calm ourselves before returning to dealing with the issue. It would not be wise to confront any adverse situation in anger.

According to a study published in The Guardian (May 12, 2019), “Feeling anger can alter the way we view risks. Studies have shown that it can make us more impulsive and make us underestimate the chances of bad outcomes.” The article also highlights that “the way we process angry feelings also contributes to our mental wellbeing.”

When the Prophet said, “Don't get angry”, it means, don’t get angry even when provoked. Respond positively even in negative situations. Always adopt positive thinking.

In the face of problems, anger further deteriorates the situation. By controlling anger we can develop the capability of responding positively in negative situations; taking the right decisions under difficult conditions; of discovering practical solutions to all problems.