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Controlled reactions
Haniff
08/31/01 at 01:56:03
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh [center]Controlled reactions By Dr Muhammad Kamal Al-Shareef[/center] Describing the believers, God says in the Qur'an: "The true servants of the Merciful are they who walk gently on Earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply with (words of) peace." (25: 63) When we read this verse, we almost see with our eyes the sort of serenity which fills the hearts of the believers. Faith produces a marked change in human character so as to make it easy, friendly, peaceful and disinclined to violence except when fighting for God's cause against disbelievers who are hostile to the Divine faith. The Prophet gives a generous promise to every believer who develops such a character, making him safe and immune on the Day of Judgment. He says: "Shall I tell you who will be immune from the fire of hell? It will not touch anyone who is accessible, easy, friendly and peaceful." (Related by At-Tirmithi who describes it as an authentic Hadith). The Prophet once said to one of his companions: "You have two traits which God loves: forbearance and cool thinking." (Related by Muslim). Faith gives human beings serenity and reassurance. A believer is not agitated unless he faces great danger. He is reassured that he has a good position with God, which may not be threatened by any little cause. Such is only felt by one who does not derive his position from feeling that God is pleased with him. He feels that his standing is based only on how people perceive him. Anas, a companion of the Prophet, reports: "I was walking with God's messenger (peace be upon him) when he was wearing a Najran robe made of rough material. A bedouin caught up with him and pulled him roughly by the collar. I looked at the Prophet's neck and saw the marks of his robe clearly on his neck. The bedouin said to him: 'Muhammad, give me of God's money that you have with you.' The Prophet turned his face toward him, smiled and gave instructions that he should be given what he asked for." (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Good manners and easy, friendly and compassionate dealing with others are bound to leave their mark on one's character, giving reassurance and serenity to oneself. A person who does not repress his irritation and gives way to his anger and fury cannot maintain an attitude of good manners. On the contrary, when he is in the flight of anger, he undoubtedly reacts violently. He may easily fall in the trap of injustice, repelling a grievance with something much harsher. Hence, Islam urges its followers to adopt an attitude of ease and gentleness. The Prophet says: "God is gentle, and He loves the adoption of a gentle attitude in all matters." (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). He also says: "God is gentle and He loves a gentle attitude, rewarding gentility with something with which He would never reward violence or anything else." (Related by Muslim). Another Hadith quotes the Prophet as saying: "Whenever gentility is characteristic of something, it adds to its beauty, and whenever it is absent from something, it detracts from its beauty." (Related by Muslim). The Prophet also says: "A person deprived of gentility is one deprived of all goodness." (Related by Muslim). The Prophet has outlined for us several ways of self-restraint when we are too irritated. These rely on behavior. In this the Prophet was 14 centuries ahead of modem psychotherapy which has realized that a person's reactions are influenced, among other things, by his body position and facial expression. A strong psychological feeling produces a change in facial expression and body position, which, in turn, aggravate the reaction that has caused them in the first place. This means that a psychological reaction will try to build itself up until it becomes a powerful motivator. A strong feeling of irritation will cause angry facial expression and initiate a change of body position so as to make the irritated person ready to attack his opponent. As the irritated person senses these, his irritation becomes stronger. Hence, a deliberate countermeasure that changes such physical expressions and body position will produce a counter feeling to reduce irritation and anger. That is certain to help an irritated person to cool down. The Prophet says: "When any of you is angry, let him hold his tongue." (Related by Ahmad). He also says: "If any of you is standing when he gets angry, let him sit down. If his anger is not reduced by that, let him recline." (Related by Abu Dawood). The Prophet is quoted as saying: "Anger is a feeling caused by Satan, and Satan has been created from fire. Fire is put out with water. Hence, when any of you is overtaken by anger, let him perform ablutions." (Related by Abu Dawood). Two people exchanged abusive remarks in the presence of the Prophet. One of them soon became red in eye and face, with his cheeks swelling up. The Prophet said: "I know a word which if this man would say, all that he feels would go away. That word is 'I seek refuge with God against Satan, the accursed one.' In its Arabic form, that reads as a'uoothu billahi mina-shaitani-rajeem." (Related by Abu Dawood). God gives instant reward for good manners, patience, gentility and friendliness. That reward takes the form of serenity and reassurance that fill a believer's heart. It further gives him physical health. That is the best adornment in life. [i]"Islam in Perspective" - Arab News - 02 October 2000[/i] Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Haniff

Re: Controlled reactions
Sonny
08/31/01 at 16:34:02
I know I alway's say this, but these articles are just so helpful!  They have really cleared up a lot of misperceptions of Islam for me.  I so appreciate it, and thank you again.  Sonny.  :)

Re: Controlled reactions
Haniff
08/31/01 at 23:13:22
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh [quote]I so appreciate it, and thank you again.  Sonny[/quote] You are welcome. Insha Allah, more will follow. Haniff
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