Dua for Anger
3 Things to Know About Controlling Rage
Anger is a powerful emotion that, if left unchecked, can lead the believer to say and do what they later regret, and so the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught a simple refuge to calm the heart when rage arises. He taught that anger comes from Satan, and that seeking refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed can dispel it. The dua for anger turns to Allah in the moment of rage, asking His protection from the whisper that stirs the heart to anger.
The Prophet (pbuh) taught not only the words to say in anger, but also practical steps to calm it, such as sitting down and performing ablution, showing that managing anger combines the remembrance of Allah with wise action. This guide explains the dua for anger and three things to know about controlling rage, so that the believer may meet anger in the way the Prophet (pbuh) taught, seeking refuge in Allah from Satan, taking the steps that cool the heart, and remembering that the truly strong person is the one who controls themselves when angry.
Seeking Refuge in the Moment of Anger
The Prophet (pbuh) taught that when a person becomes angry, the whisper of Satan stirs the heart, and that seeking refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed can calm the rage. Once, when two men were arguing and one of them grew red with anger, the Prophet (pbuh) said that he knew words which, if the man said them, would remove what he felt, namely seeking refuge in Allah from Satan. By turning to Allah in the moment of anger, the believer breaks the hold of the whisper upon the heart.
Seeking refuge in Allah from Satan reminds the believer that anger often comes from the enemy who seeks to provoke them into wrongdoing. By naming Satan and turning to Allah for protection, the believer steps back from the rage and regains control of the heart. The dua for anger is this refuge, a short and powerful supplication that cools the fire of anger and returns the believer to calm, so that they do not act on rage in a way they will regret.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A‘udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed
Three Things to Know About Controlling Rage
Anger is a test of self-control that the believer meets with the help of Allah. These three things help the believer control rage.
- Seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed, for anger often comes from his whisper.
- Take practical steps to cool the heart, such as sitting down or performing ablution.
- Remember that the truly strong person is the one who controls themselves when angry.
لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ
Laysash-shadidu bis-sur‘ati innamash-shadidul-ladhi yamliku nafsahu ‘indal-ghadab
The strong one controls himself when he is angry
Calming the Heart with the Help of Allah
The dua for anger turns to Allah in the moment of rage, seeking refuge from the whisper of Satan and calming the heart. By seeking refuge in Allah from Satan, taking practical steps to cool the heart, and remembering that the strong person controls themselves when angry, the believer manages anger in the best way. Anger that is left unchecked leads to regret, but the believer who turns to Allah and takes the steps the Prophet (pbuh) taught regains control and protects themselves and others from its harm.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua for good character and the dua against arrogance. Together they help the believer build the calm and noble character that Islam encourages.
When anger rises, the Prophet (pbuh) taught the believer to seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed. Learn the duas for life with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on TikTok for a reminder to calm the heart in anger, and on Facebook where readers share how they control rage.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua for anger is the refuge the Prophet (pbuh) taught: audhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim, I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed. He taught that saying it can remove the anger a person feels in the moment of rage.
Because the Prophet (pbuh) taught that anger comes from the whisper of Satan, who seeks to provoke the believer into wrongdoing. Seeking refuge in Allah from Satan breaks the hold of that whisper and calms the heart.
The Prophet (pbuh) taught that the angry person should sit down if standing, and lie down if sitting, and that performing ablution can cool the fire of anger. These steps combine with the remembrance of Allah to calm the heart.
The Prophet (pbuh) taught that the strong person is not the one who overpowers others in wrestling, but the one who controls himself when he is angry. True strength is shown in mastering rage, not in venting it.
Not all anger is blameworthy, for there is anger for the sake of justice and the limits of Allah. What the believer guards against is uncontrolled rage that leads to wrongdoing, which is calmed by seeking refuge in Allah.
If anger led to wrongdoing, the believer turns to Allah in repentance, makes amends with those they wronged, and resolves to seek refuge in Allah in future. The door of repentance is always open to the one who returns to Allah.