Controlling Anger and Arrogance: Commentary on the 16th Hadith
This lecture explains the sixteenth Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi, where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advises a man not to become angry. The speaker discusses how anger stems from arrogance, referencing a dialogue between Zakariyya (AS) and Jesus (AS) on what distances one from the wrath of Allah ﷻ. It also warns against directing anger towards those under our authority.
The sixteenth Hadith.
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that a man said to the Prophet ﷺ, "Advise me."
He said, "Do not become angry." He repeated it and he said, "Do not become angry." Narrated by al-Bukhari.
Yes, this Hadith is the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah, that the Prophet ﷺ
said to the one who sought his advice, "Do not become angry."
The scholars said: Because anger
is the worst of character traits and the greatest of bad manners,
since under this trait falls all bad manners, and because of it, it is the greatest [evil],
and it only occurs due to something major, which is arrogance.
Imam Ahmad narrated in the Book of Zuhd that Zakariyya said
to his maternal cousin, Jesus, son of Mary (AS) and peace be upon our Prophet:
"What brings one closer to Allah's ﷻ pleasure and distances one from His wrath?"
Jesus (AS) said, "Do not become angry."
Zakariyya (AS) asked, "And what brings about anger?"
Jesus (AS), son of Mary, replied, "Pride, arrogance, and self-grandeur."
For no man gets angry except that in his heart is arrogance,
and in his heart is pride and self-grandeur over the creation of Allah ﷻ.
Therefore, indeed, whoever guards himself from anger and is able to control his own reins,
and restrain it from anger, then in reality, he is the forbearing one.
And the Arabs (RH) mentioned that the noblest of character traits are forbearance and humility,
and they are inseparable; and the worst of character traits are arrogance and anger, and they are inseparable.
And when we say "not getting angry," this includes all anger,
especially towards those under one's hand, whether due to weakness, authority, or the like.
For indeed, some people only get angry at the weak and those who are below them,
such as a hired worker or the like,
or someone under his guardianship, like a son or a wife,
or a student of his in the classroom.
For some teachers wrong their students because they have authority, even if for just a few hours,
And all of this is impermissible.
Indeed, the noblest of manners, as the Prophet ﷺ explained when asked for advice, is to avoid anger. Yes.