45/30. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2609b — Strength Is Self-Control
The Virtue Of One Who Controls Himself At Times Of Anger, And What Takes Away Anger
Strong Man Hadith: Controlling Anger in Rage
Sahih Muslim : 2609b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2609b
حَدَّثَنَا حَاجِبُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ " . قَالُوا فَالشَّدِيدُ أَيُّمَ هُوَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: One is not strong because of one's wrestling skillfully. They said: Allah's Messenger, then who is strong? He said: He who controls his anger when he is in a fit of rage.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2609bIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 141USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6314
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2609b
This strong man hadith explains strength in a way that changes how people usually think. The people asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who the strong person really is. He answered that strength is not based on wrestling skill. The strong person is the one who controls his anger when he is in a fit of rage. The focus is clear: controlling anger is a real sign of strength. This narration also shows that the Companions asked for clarity, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a direct answer. The hadith does not discuss every type of anger. It focuses on the moment when rage is strong and a person must hold himself back.
What we learn from this hadith
- Asking for clarification can lead to deeper understanding.
- Wrestling skill is not the main measure of strength in this hadith.
- Holding anger during rage is praised as true strength.
