Tuesday, January 27, 2015

ANGER AND FORGIVENESS

At different situations in life, it is natural to get angry by people’s behavior. Up to this stage it is natural, but how to react to this situation is to a greater extent in our hands. Anger causes stresses which have adverse effects on human body specially the heart. When a man is angry, certain enzymes are released by the body causing a rise in the blood pressure and cholesterol. It increases the demand of oxygen by the heart’s muscles cells and causes stickiness to blood platelets which may lead to the formation blood clots and may lead to heart attack or stroke. Similarly, increase in blood pressure in the arteries is also a contributing factor leading to heart attack. Anger affects nervous system, liver, kidneys and may cause depression. Uncontrolled anger may lead to violence causing severe damage to the person himself or persons near him.
The modern science deals with this situation under “Stress Management”. There are a large number of ways and methods how to manage your stress, which also include forgiveness and meditation.
Turning to our way of life i.e. Islam, Allah, The Creator of human race, knows the causes and grants remedies to mankind.
Surah al-Shurah Ayah 40: “The recompense of evil will be equivalent to the deed. He, who pardons (the evil done to him) and reforms himself, will receive his reward from Allah. He certainly does not love the unjust.”
Surah al-Noor Ayah 22: “The well-to-do and the rich among you should not fail to give to relatives, the destitute, and Emmigrants for the cause of Allah. Be considerate and forgiving. Do you not want Allah to forgive you? Allah is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.”
Surah al-A’raafAyah 199: “Have forgiveness, preach the truth, and keep away from the ignorant ones.”
The Sunnah of our beloved Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) is in our view, how he forgave people who caused physical and emotional injuries to him. He forgave all the polytheists on the eve of “The Victory of Makkah” who had fought many wars with the Muslims, inflicted inhuman injuries to the people who converted to Islam, forced him to leave his place of birth and migrate to Madinah.
The Commander of the Faithful, the Gateway of the Knowledge, Imam Ali (a.s.) says:
                “Be afraid of your anger, because out of all the weapons of Shaitan, inciting anger (in                    a person) is his strongest (weapon).”
                “I advise you to control anger and do not lose your temper.”
                “Take pride in performing good acts, keeping away from blood-shed, doing justice to                    people, and suppressing anger.”
                “Anger is akin to madness, and the person usually repents; if not, then his madness is                    confirmed.”
The Infallible Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) said: “If anyone is angry, he should lie down. If he is angry with one of his blood relation, then that person should touch with his hands the person in anger, then his anger will cool down.
As a general rule, the angry person should immediately change the environment; either goes to a different room or go out of the house and gets some fresh air. When a person gets angry, electric charge is developed in his body. Hence the directive of the Imam to lie down when angry results in discharging the body of the electric charge generated.

Sources used:


The Glorious Qur’an, Nahjul Balagha, al-Kafi of al-Kulayni, WebMD

No comments:

Post a Comment