When Are We Allowed To Be Angry? This is Imam al-Ghazali's answer
When Are We Allowed To Be Angry? This is Imam al-Ghazali's answer
The virtual world is being horrified by a video of the anger of a famous preacher in Indonesia. Previously, there was also a video of a world artist slapping the presenter on stage at a favorite artist awards ceremony. They are angry for some reason. Then when are we allowed to be angry?
Anger is human nature. Within humans there is the potential for anger which usually arises when a person faces or experiences things that hurt his feelings, such as being insulted, beaten, hurt by family members, failure, and the like.
However, humans can still control the anger that is in him. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah Ra., it is stated:
أَن رَجُلاً قَالَ: يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ, مُرْنِيْ بِعَمَلٍ وَأَقْلِلْ. قَالَ: لَا تَغْضَبْ. ثُم أَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ, فَقَالَ: لَا تَغْضَبْ. (رواه البخاري)
A man said: "O Messenger of Allah, order me with a practice, and reduce it (the level of practice)." The Prophet replied: "Don't be angry." Then the Prophet repeated: "Don't be angry." (H.R. Bukhari) (Al-Ghazali, Ihya`, Vol. 3, p. 204)
Holding back anger is one of the characteristics of pious people, as mentioned in Q.S. Ali Imran [3] verse 134.
(namely) people who always spend, both in free and narrow times, people who control their anger, and people who forgive (mistakes) of others. Allah loves those who do good. (Translation of the Ministry of Religion, 2019)
Anger is actually not a negative potential, but neutral. This potential does not need to be eliminated, but only needs to be controlled so that it does not disappear or increase in levels. The loss of anger can make someone oppressed. Conversely, increasing levels of anger to the point where it is uncontrollable can lead to acts of violence and destruction.
Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 505 H) mentions two conditions when the potential for anger comes out of neutral boundaries with at-tafrith (التفريط) and al-ifrath (الإفراط). At-tafrith is a condition when a person loses the potential for anger, in other words, when he should be angry, he cannot express it. This is described in the words of Imam as-Shafi'i (d. 204 H) quoted by al-Ghazali in the book Ihya` (Jil. 3, p. 207).
من استغضب فلم يغضب فهو حمار
Whoever is made angry but not angry then he is (like) a donkey.
Meanwhile, al-ifrath is a condition when the potential for anger is out of control so that a person is no longer able to see, think, and determine his actions clearly. One of the factors that can bring about this condition is the presence of courage that a person has, so that he feels that nothing can prevent him from expressing his anger.
Why do humans only need to control anger and not eliminate it? This is because under certain conditions a person must vent his anger. There are certain times we are allowed to be angry. Al-Ghazali charted the time when someone was allowed to be angry, even had to be angry. (Al-Ghazali, Ihya`, Vol. 3, p. 209-210)
First, basic or primary needs that are the right of every person, such as housing, clothing, health, and so on. If someone's basic needs are disturbed, then he has the right to be angry. For example, when he is beaten even though he is innocent, then he has the right to be angry. So, the context here is anger in self-defense, and even then it shouldn't be done excessively. Or one can choose a more noble action, namely by being patient.
Second, additional or secondary needs, such as a lot of wealth (which, even if it is reduced, the necessities of life can still be met), livestock, and the like. If this need is disturbed, then he has no right to be angry.
Third, basic needs for some people, but not for others. For example, a book is a basic need for a santri, but not for a doctor. If someone loses or burns the book, then the santri has the right to be angry, but not the doctor.
According to the author, it seems that Al-Ghazali emphasized that anger is needed only in emergencies, and even then it is actually only for self-defense. Meanwhile, when it comes to secondary needs, he considers that there is no need to mess around. Because in truth what we need to save and maintain is only what we need. (AN)
Wallahu A'lam.
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