The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is the Mercy to Mankind. His mercy is to save humanity from eternal pain in the Hell Fire. Breaking the laws of Allah takes the perpetrator to the Fire of Hell. Therefore, part of his mercy is to become angry and warn those who fall into sin.

Nowadays people misunderstand love and mercy when it comes to Islam. The parent that spoils his/her children and bring them up on bad habits is not one that even the kafir, with a little intelligence, considers a good parent. So why is it that when a Muslim is angry at the time of prohibiting evil it is considered stemming from a lack of love and wisdom.

Without a doubt, the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was the one who cared and loved this Ummah the most. Anyone who claims he/she has more love and compassion towards the Ummah than the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is making a statement of kufr. Yet we see in Seerah and the Hadith that the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم became angry when the laws of Allah were broken. Not once or twice but almost every single time.

In many ahadith we would hear the Sahabah describing how the Messenger’s face would change colour as he became angry. For instance, Abu Masud al-Badari said: “I have never seen the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم so angry while giving a speech as he was on that day.” [Bukhari]

This anger was sometimes directed at the whole congregation, while at times it was leveled at an individual.

Once the most beloved companion of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, Usamah ibn Zaid رضي الله عنه interceded on behalf of a thief concerning her legal punishment. In a very stern tone the Messenger retorted: “Do you intercede when one of the legal punishments ordained by Allah has been violated?” Then he got up and addressed the people saying: “The people before you were ruined because when a noble person amongst them committed theft, they would leave him, but if a weak person amongst them committed theft, they would execute the legal punishment on him. By Allah, were Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, to commit the theft, I would have cut off her hand.” [Bukhari Muslim]

Can someone claim that the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم did not love Fatimah or Usamah?

The reader might say that this was a major issue, that is why the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم became angry. Let us then mention the hadith concerning an issue that most people of today will consider insignificant but the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم became angry and warned the Sahabah concerning it.

The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed spittle in the mosque in the direction of qiblah. The signs of anger were perceived on his face. [Nasai’s narration states: ‘He became angry until his face became red.’ Adabul Mufrad has: ‘He was enraged.’] Then, he stood up and scrap it away with his own hand and said: “When you stand in Salah …” [Bukhari Muslim]

Ponder over saliva and the Mercy to Mankind صلى الله عليه وسلم becoming enraged.

I would suffice on one more incident concerning which people of today would consider reprimanding without wisdom may Allah forbid.

Aishah the most beloved wife of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم reports: Once the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم returned from a journey, and saw a curtain hung along a platform with some pictures on it. The colour of his face changed. He tore it up and said, O Aishah, the most tormented people on the Day of Judgement are those who contend with Allah in terms of creation.” [Bukhari Muslim]

If someone was to return from a journey and before kissing his wife becomes angry at her and reprimand her for a sin, he would be considered a person who lacks wisdom in the sight of the so-called ulama of today.

Becoming angry when the laws of Shariah are broken is a praise worthy quality that we are encouraged to adopt. This is the method the scholars have used to reconcile between the above ahadith and those that warn against getting angry.

There are many verses of the Quran Majeed where Allah’s anger is manifest. Similarly, many ahadith that warn against sin are intensified with an angry tone.

Without anger how will one fight in jihad? Without anger how will one carry out the hudood? Without anger how will one protect others from oppression? Without anger how will one prevent sin?

The reason for the downfall of the ummah today is not a lack of good deeds, rather it is because we are immersed in sin without even considering it such. There is no shortage of ‘enjoining good’ [Amr bil Ma’roof] in the ummah, there is, however a complete disregard of ‘forbiding from evil’ [Nahi anil Munkar]. The only places where evil is forbidden is in the madaaris and darul ulooms that are ran according to the style of our Akabir of Deoband. May Allah along with our claim of loving them allow us to follow in their footsteps.