Chapter 11 - On Patience, and Controlling One's Anger

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “One of the back-breaking calamities is a bad neighbor who will cover up your good acts and divulge your bad deeds.”

“The Almighty God loves shy and patient people.”

“God has not honored any ignorant people, nor has He humiliated any patient people.”

Ameer al-Momineen (a.s) asked Imam Hussein (a.s): “My dear son! What is patience?” He replied: “It is controlling your anger and maintaining your self-control.”

Imam Reza (a.s) told a man from Qum: “Fear God, be quiet, persevere and be patient since no one can attain the position of God's servitude unless he is patient.”

Imam Reza (a.s) said: “Whoever is not patient is not sane.”

“I like men who are patient when they get angry.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “Nothing is dearer to God the Almighty than quenching your anger with patience.”

“O' God! He tells me of Hassan who is oppressing me. But I forgive him. You too forgive him.” He kept on praying until he noticed his companion. He said: “May God bless you, too. Please go.” The man left. Later Hassan went to visit the Imam (a.s).

“O' God! I forgive him. You are more forgiving than me, so please forgive him for my sake and do not question him about this.” The Imam (a.s) continued to cry and pray and the man was surprised.

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “God will honor whoever is oppressed and is able to take revenge but does not do so.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God will increase the honor of whoever quenches his anger in this world and the Hereafter. The Almighty God said: “Who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men, for God loves those who do good.” [The Holy Quran: Al- i-Imran 3:134] God will recompense him with Heaven in return for his anger.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whoever is able to take revenge but restrains his anger, God will fill his heart with peace and faith until the Resurrection Day.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Quenching anger is a blessing for whoever is patient.”

“Two of the best ways to approach God are restraining one’s anger, and maintaining one's patience in the face of calamities.”

Imam Sajjad (a.s) said: “God Has made a covenant with believers to acknowledge His words and not take revenge from his enemies.”

a man asked the Prophet of God (a.s) to inform him about good ethics. He said: “Forgive whoever has oppressed you, establish ties with whoever has cut off his relations with you, forgive whoever has deprived you, and tell the truth even if it is not to your benefit.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “God will marry off Heavenly Hurri's to you in whatever manner you please if you restrain your anger, patiently fight in the way of God, and do not use illegitimately obtained wealth.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “The wisest men are those who treat the people with kindness. The strongest men are the ones who best quench their anger.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “God will call upon whoever can take revenge but shows self-restraint in the Hereafter in front of all and give him the option to choose whichever Houri he pleases.”

I swear by God who controls my life that nothing blends with knowledge better than patience.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There is nothing better than quenching your anger with patience and perseverance.”

“Whoever lives and treats others with patience will die as a martyr.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Once when the Prophet (a.s) was passing by a group of people who were trying to lift a rock he asked them why they were doing so? They said that they were trying to find out who the strongest was. The Prophet (a.s) told them that he could tell them who the strongest man was if they wished him to. When they said they wished to hear the Prophet (a.s), he said the one who was the strongest is the one who does not engage in sin or wrong deeds whenever he is satisfied; one who does not utter but what is right when he is angry; and one who does not do what is unjust when he is powerful.”

Imam Reza (a.s) said: “Anger is the key to all wickedness.”