Author: Abdul Hameed Gurgij
Anger and Rage (Part One)
«لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرْعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْد الغَضَبِ» Translation: “A strong and powerful person is not the one who throws another to the ground, but rather the one who, in moments of anger and rage, gains control over themselves and restrains their emotions.”
Abstract
Anger, which the Creator has instilled in human nature, is highly valuable, but one must exercise control to avoid transgressing justice. It is a defensive force embedded within humans to protect themselves and uphold truth. However, when it strays from its rightful course, it turns into a major vice, bringing along other significant moral flaws. Poets and aesthetes have often drawn parallels between human traits and elements of nature. They have likened sadness to autumn or sunset and generosity to nurturing clouds and rain. Similarly, anger has been compared to a raging storm, roaring thunder, flashing lightning, and an erupting volcano.
Introduction
Undoubtedly, all of us have, at some point in our lives, experienced anger or encountered angry individuals. Anger is an emotion that, rather than being suppressed, must be managed. It conveys a message about our surroundings, but if our reaction to this message is excessive, it will never reach its intended recipient effectively.
It is essential to understand that anger is a vital necessity of human existence and a divine blessing. Without it, no one could fend off dangers or confront enemies. Therefore, eliminating this force entirely is neither possible nor necessary. Our only duty is to control it, recognizing that it serves as a test from Allah (SWT). What pleases Allah is for anger to be under human control, not the other way around. Angry reactions are involuntary emotional responses to a perceived real or imagined threat. The greater the threat, the stronger the emotional arousal, which, in turn, increases the motivation to eliminate it.
Anger is highly desirable and praiseworthy when directed against a real threat. A person who harnesses their aggressive instincts can stand firm against challenges. However, if an extreme emotional reaction occurs over a minor threat, it cannot be considered rational or justified; rather, it is viewed as a psychological disorder. Thus, anger is deemed irrational and unjustifiable in three situations:
1. When one becomes angry without a valid reason.
2. When the intensity of anger is disproportionate to the event that triggered it.
3. When the action taken after anger does not match the level of the perceived threat.
Such reactions can stem from various causes. In some cases, organic factors contribute to anger, such as physical wounds, illnesses, medication side effects, or genetic issues that impair the nervous system’s proper functioning. However, aside from these medical causes, disproportionate emotional reactions often result from flawed thinking and false assumptions that the mind forms during distressing events, ultimately leading to anger.
What Is Anger?
Anger is defined as “a specific emotional and physical reaction of the human spirit aimed at overpowering and defeating an opponent.” In other words, it is a state of resistance and aggression exhibited by a living being when confronted with a factor that threatens its interests and well-being. Put simply, anger is the response of any living organism to obstacles preventing the fulfillment of its desires.
In summary, anger is a psychological state that ranges from mild irritation to intense rage. Physiological symptoms of anger include an increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and a surge in adrenaline levels. Some believe that anger is part of the brain’s response to its fear of pain. When a person consciously decides to act against an external force perceived as a threat, anger becomes the dominant emotion—manifesting behaviourally, mentally, and physiologically.
The external signs of anger are evident in facial expressions, body posture, physiological responses, and sometimes aggressive public behaviour. For example, both animals and humans raise their voices, attempt to appear larger, bare their teeth, and stare intensely when enraged.
Anger is a behavioral pattern designed to warn aggressors to cease their threatening actions. Physical altercations rarely occur without one party first displaying anger as a warning. Some believe that anger originates from the soul and emerges as a reaction to an unpleasant action or state, altering the disposition of living beings and sometimes resulting in dangerous consequences. Those who can control their anger avoid acting in harmful ways, though this self-restraint requires immense inner strength and patience.
Continues…
By 