Re: some questions regarding Abu Bakr thread
Peace Texan_Dude
Auzdubillahi minashaiTanirajim … And May Allah (SWT) guide me in this. I will leave the rest for brother Ibn Sadique to qualify, but this question you raise again and again without ever focussing on the vast hadith that we have. You blame us for picking and choosing hadith so let’s turn the tables and show you as much of the hadith I can get you regarding ‘anger’.
My first point however, will be a question that attempts to answer your question directly. In order to believe that Fatima-tuZahra to be a person who gets angry only for the right reasons you will need to provide evidence for this.
In the same way you have asked us if there is a hadith that shows Fatima-tuZahra having the tendency to get angry for the wrong reasons, we can ask you the same question that show us a hadith where Rasul-Allah said, that his daughter (RA) has no tendency of getting angry for the wrong reasons. So please find this hadith for us.
Now let’s focus on anger itself:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The best of you are those who are slow to anger and swift to cool down…Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the descendants of Adam.” - Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1331
In this hadith there is nothing to distinguish between anger for right reasons or anger for wrong reasons, there is no difference, getting angry itself is not befitting. Rather we must prevent ourselves from getting angry at every cost. If something is wrong then anger should be channeled towards righteous action to rectify the wrong thing, and when the wrong thing is rectified then the person should cool down quickly and be happy again.
…Muhammad ibn Ya’qub (al-Kulayni), from 'Ali ibn Ibrahim, from Muhammad ibn 'Isa, from Yunus, from Dawud ibn Farqad, who reports al 'Imam al-Sadiq (A) to have said: “Anger is the key (that opens the door) to all kinds of vices.”
Part of the exposition on this narration - “… Anger, in fact, is an inner psychic movement due to which a state of agitation is produced in the heart’s blood, arousing a desire for vengeance. And when this agitation becomes more violent, it intensifies the fire of anger. A violent commotion in the blood seizes the heart, filling the arteries and the brain with a flurry of dark smoke, on account of which the mind and the intellect lose control and become powerless…”
The place for aggression is to sanction righteous preservation and survival.
It is reported on the authority of al-Imam al-Sadiq (A) that the Apostle of God (S) said: “Anger spoils faith in the same way as vinegar destroys honey.”
“Indeed, this anger is the spark lit by Satan in the heart of the son of Adam.” - 'Imam al-Baqir (A)
It is recorded in the Torah regarding that which God Almighty confided to Moses (A), saying: “O Moses, control your anger towards those over whom I have given you authority, so that I may spare you from My Wrath.”
It is reported from al 'Imam al-Baqir (A) that he said. “Verily, anger is a spark ignited by the Devil in the human heart. Indeed, when anyone of you gets angry, his eyes become red, the veins of his neck become swollen and Satan enters them. Therefore, whosoever among you is concerned about himself on account of it, he should lie down for a while so that the filth of Satan may be removed from him at the time.”
Maysir reports that once anger was discussed in the presence of al-'Imam al Baqir (A). He said: “Verily, it happens that an angry person would not be satisfied until he enters the Fire (i.e. his anger does not subside unless it drags him into the hellfire). Therefore, whoever is angry with someone let him sit down immediately if he is standing; for, indeed, it would repel from him the uncleanliness of Satan. And whoever gets angry with his kinsman, let him approach him and pat him; for the feeling of consanguinity, when stimulated by touch, induces calmness.”
I have taken Shi’a sources above too references: Al-Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi (Tehran), Vol. III (Arabic text with Persian translation by Sayyid Jawad Mustafawi, p. 412.
Now watch this:
“The strong man is not the one who throws people in wrestling. The strong man is the one who has control of himself when he is angry.” - From RiyaduSauliheen.
You will have noticed that at the beginning of this post I wrote something: Translated: I seek refuge in Allah (SWT) from Satan the Rejected One. This saying in Al Bukhari 7/99, and Muslim 4/2015 is confirmed as the correct method for controlling anger. It is an invocation (du’a) to Allah (SWT) to be protected from Satan. Anger is from Satan.
Notice how none of these hadith talk about anger for right or wrong reasons. They just talk about anger as a general topic.
Now there is no evidence of this anywhere, but I will ask you the same question, when you get angry do you seek protection from Allah (SWT)? When FatimatuZahra (RA) became angry is there any record in hadith that shows she uttered this invocation?
Now we can read between the lines all you like, but it is clear that Abu Bakr AsSiddique had a dilemma on his hands. Does he give up the Fadaq to please Fatimah (RA) but creates a Bidd’a or does he follow the Sunnah and risks upsetting Fatimah (RA)? According to all common sense it is obvious Fatimah (RA) was in error and Abu Bakr AsSiddique (RA) was very upset at hearing Fatimah (RA) was upset due to his decision, but later she realised her mistake, she then was back to normal.
This behaviour is exactly that what is required in the first hadith I gave, that if a person does find themselves getting angry then to do so slowly, but then to calm down quickly. There is no evidence that Fatimah (RA) was angry with anyone for any long duration. Not talking to someone does not qualify as remaining in a state of anger with them.
Now here is you dilemma … If she (RA) was angry for a long time then she was not fulfilling the advice in the hadith. However, if she (RA) did follow the hadith then it means that you cannot use the argument of selecting people as righteous or not righteous based on your idea of who is right or wrong based on who angers Fatimah (RA). I state there is no where, where it states that the anger of Faitmah (RA) is like a detection mechanism for selecting good people from bad people.