Restraining Anger

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الغضبان كالسكران لا يؤاخذ بما يقول

The angry person is like the drunk person, not accountable for what he says.

لأن الغضب يذهب العقل، ويستر البصيرة،

Because anger takes away reason and veils insight.

فترى الرجل في حال غضبه يتكلم بما يندم عليه إذا سكن غضبه، ويفعل ما يسيء إليه في دينه ودنياه

So you see a man, in his state of anger, speaking words he regrets when his anger subsides, and doing what harms him in his religion and worldly life.

وَكَمْ مِن رَجُلٍ غَضِبَ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ أَوْ صَدِيقِهِ فَقَالَ كَلِمَةً قَاسِيَةً فَرَّقَتْ بَيْنَهُمَا أَوْ فَعَلَ فِعْلَةً شَنْعَاءَ أَوْرَثَتْ عَدَاوَةً

How many a man has gotten angry at his child or friend, uttered a harsh word that separated them, or committed a terrible deed that led to enmity.

فالعاقل من يملك نفسه عند الغضب، ويكظم غيظه، ويتذكر عاقبة الأمر

The wise person is one who controls himself when angry, suppresses his rage, and recalls the consequences.

وقد قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ليس الشديد بالصرعة، إنما الشديد الذي يملك نفسه عند الغضب

"The strong is not the one who overcomes others, but the strong is one who controls himself at the time of anger."

فليتخذ الإنسان لنفسه وقاية من الغضب،

So let a person take for himself a shield against anger,

بأن يتفكر في قبح صورته عند الغضب، وفي سوء عاقبة ما يصدر منه

by thinking about the ugliness of his appearance when angry, and the bad consequences of what he does.

فإن استطاع أن لا يغضب فهو الكامل، وإلا فليمسك لسانه ويده

If he can avoid getting angry, he is complete; otherwise, let him restrain his tongue and his hand.