Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) narrated:
“A man said to the Prophet (SWS): “Advise me.” He said: “Do not become angry.” The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet said to him: “Do not become angry.””
According to another narration, the man later said: “I thought about what the Prophet said, and I realized that anger combines all kinds of evil.”
Anger is an impulse that comes to us by the devil. It is like fire because it heats up our body and makes us red in the face. It is chaotic and dangerous, and can lead to many evils. This includes verbal abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and even killing.
It comes out of us when we least expect it. It sneaks up on us and a lot of the time we don't even realize we're in anger mode. We're too caught up in the heated moment that we forget what to do in that moment. But the Prophet Muhammad (SWS) has proposed a cure for that.
“I was sitting with the Prophet, when two men began slandering one another. One of them was red in the face, and the veins on his neck were standing out. The Prophet said: “I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away. If he said: “I seek refuge with Allah from the Devil (A’oodhu billahi minash-shaytaan nir rajeem),” what he feels would go away.’”
The devil's mission is lead us astray, and to get us angry is a great way for him to succeed. Don't let him get to you by seeking refuge in Allah from his cunning evil. The devil is made of fire, and anger is like fire. So douse the fires with the tranquility of that prayer.
Also, resisting yourself is another great way to prevent yourself from saying anything or doing anything that you might later regret. The Prophet Muhammad (SWS) said, “If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.” Resisting can also mean sitting down or better yet, lying down because then the person isn't able to do anything. “Abu Dharr was taking his camels to drink at a trough that he owned, when some other people came along and said to one another: “Who can compete with Abu Dharr in bringing animals to drink and make his hair stand on end?” A man said: “I can.” So, he brought his animals and competed with Abu Dharr and ended up breaking the trough. Abu Dharr was standing when he saw this, so, he sat down, then he laid down. Someone asked him: “O Abu Dharr, why did you sit down then lie down?” He said: “The Messenger of Allah said: “If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so that his anger will go away. If it does not go away, let him lie down."”
Think about the reward of not getting angry. The Prophet Muhammad (SWS) said: "Whoever curbs his anger, while being able to act, Allah will fill his heart with certainty of faith."
Just like fire, anger can be doused with water. Washing the face, hands, etc. or drinking water will quell your anger and douse the fires of evil.
There is a type of wrath that is fearful. That is the divine anger. The most divine of wraths it the wrath of Allah (SWT), also being the most scary of them. That is the wrath you never want to fall into, because indeed, Allah is the Most Merciful, but severe in punishment.
Prophet `Isa (Jesus Christ) -peace be upon him- was once asked:
"What thing is difficult?" He said: "God's wrath." Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) -peace be upon him- then asked:
"What brings near the wrath of God?" He said: "Anger".
Yahya - peace be upon him- asked him:
"What thing grows and increases anger?" Isa -peace be upon him- said:
"Pride, prestige, hope for honour and haughtiness."
But restraining anger can be one of the most powerful things a man can do. By resisting, he proves his strength because he defeated the devil and the devil of the one who angered him. The Prophet Muhammad (SWS) said: “The strong man is not the one who can overpower others. Rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets angry.”
He also said: “The strongest man is the one who, when he gets angry and his face reddens and his hackles rise, is able to defeat his anger.”
In fact, Paradise is for those who don't get angry. “Do not become angry, and Paradise is yours.” -Prophet Muhammad (SWS)
He also said that you would get the Hur al-'Ayn, which are of the most beautiful maidens in Paradise for restraining your anger. “Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allah will call him before all of mankind on the Day of Resurrection, and will let him choose of the Hur al-‘Ayn whoever he wants.”
Douse the fires of anger. The waters of peace and tranquility will automatically douse the evils of anger by resisting using the Prophet Muhammad's (SWS) methods.
“And march forth in the way to forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous; those who spend in prosperity and in adversity, repress anger, and pardon men. Verily, Allah loves the good-doers.” (Qu'ranAl ‘Imran; 134)