Controlling yourself in a moment of anger is the shortest way to be spared words you would regret.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the truly strong person is not the one who overcomes his rival, but the one who controls himself in a moment of anger. Anger is a passing feeling, yet words spoken in anger can leave lasting marks.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 6114. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadith. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- al-Bukhari, Book of Good Manners, 76 (hadith no. 6114)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Speech Etiquette
As a table with references: Speech Etiquette sunnahs.
- Speak Good or Stay Silent: Keeping away from idle and harmful speech is the tongue's most valuable use.
- Never Lying: Keeping away from lying, even in jest, builds trust.
- Keeping Away from Backbiting: Speaking about someone behind their back wounds them. The Prophet strongly warned against backbiting.
- Not Interrupting: Listening to someone without cutting them off while they speak is respect made concrete.
- Correcting Gently: Gentleness adds beauty to any task; the Prophet advised this.
- Beginning Speech in the Name of Allah: Beginning an important matter of speech by remembering Allah brings blessing to the words.