Episode 7 - Obedience to Allah in Anger

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah. Brothers and sisters, sometimes we say or do things that do not please Allah and we excuse ourselves by saying we were angry, forgetting that we are commanded to obey Allah even in our emotions... We are commanded not to get angry. Yes, we read His words: ((And those who restrain anger and pardon people)), and everyone knows the hadith ((Do not get angry)). And since ((Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity)), then it is within our power to avoid anger. Therefore, anger is not an excuse. How did the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, respond to Allah's command while they were angry? We will answer from a story in Sahih al-Bukhari. It mentions that Al-Har bin Qays was one of the people whom the Commander of the Faithful Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, would bring close and consult, because he was one of the reciters, meaning: people of knowledge and action with the Quran... These are the qualifications of a person to be Umar's advisor. Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, had no favoritism, no influence, no lineage, or wealth... Al-Har bin Qays had an uncle named Uyaynah bin Hisn. Uyaynah came from outside the city and asked his nephew to enter with him to see Umar. And indeed, they entered upon him, may Allah be pleased with him. It seems that Uyaynah bin Hisn wanted a gift from Umar. What do we expect him to say: (Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful. I have come to ask you for a gift from the wealth to use it for such and such. May Allah reward you with good). But when Uyaynah entered upon the Commander of the Faithful, he said: (O Ibn Al-Khattab, by Allah, you do not give us generously nor judge between us with justice). O Opener, O Knower, O Provider, O Generous! He did not say peace be upon you, nor did he address him as Commander of the Faithful, nor even by his name (Umar), then he accused him of neglecting his flock and swore by that, saying: (By Allah, you do not give us generously) meaning you do not give us much, (nor judge between us with justice) with whom? With the symbol of justice Umar. As if Uyaynah wanted thereby to provoke Umar to defend himself and give him a large gift.

So Umar became angry to the point of falling... Of course, the manner was very provocative. Imagine the shame of Al-Har bin Qays from his uncle's behavior. So Al-Har said: (O Commander of the Faithful, Allah the Almighty said to His Prophet, peace be upon him: ((Take patience and enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant)), and this is from the ignorant). Ibn Abbas said: By Allah, Umar did not go beyond it when he recited it to him (he did not act otherwise) and he was steadfast upon the Book of Allah (Al-Bukhari). A verse from the Book of Allah extinguished Umar's anger and restrained him from taking revenge. Did this lessen Umar's value, may Allah be pleased with him, or raise his status with Allah and with people? Therefore, my brother... do not say I am angry as if anger gives you the green light to do as you please, but rather stand by the Book of Allah as Umar stood so that Allah may honor you in both worlds... So if someone wrongs you or slanders you, then ((Take patience and enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant)).