Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

When people antagonize us, it's seems natural to get angry in return. In doing so, we forget that God is in control of the situation (Quran 10:3, 10:61, 4:85) and that God is fully aware of the antagonist (Quran 2:29, 3:120, 6:101, 39:70). God is doing everything and controls everything. Therefore, if we lose our temper, we are objecting to what God is doing and we should remind ourselves that we are not submitting to Him.


[Quran 3:133-135] You should eagerly race towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise whose width encompasses the heavens and the earth; it awaits the righteous, who give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. GOD loves the charitable. 
If they fall in sin or wrong their souls, they remember GOD and ask forgiveness for their sins―and who forgives the sins except GOD―and they do not persist in sins, knowingly.

[Quran 42:37] They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive.
[42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).
[42:39] When gross injustice befalls them, they stand up for their rights.
[42:40] Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by GOD. He does not love the unjust.
[42:41] Certainly, those who stand up for their rights, when injustice befalls them, are not committing any error.
[42:42] The wrong ones are those who treat the people unjustly, and resort to aggression without provocation. These have incurred a painful retribution.
[42:43] Resorting to patience and forgiveness reflects a true strength of character.


One of the qualities of the righteous is that they are suppressors of anger (Quran 3:133-134). They forgive the antagonist (Quran 42:37) and pray to God to forgive all believers (Quran 47:19, 59:10). We must remember this when provoked, and seek God's help to deal with the situation equitably.



References:
Knowing God, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/videos/vid.php?vid=ospZqOXEAGc
God is in control, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2004/feb/page4.html
Anecdote: A Little Boy's Temper, http://masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2009/apr/page4.html

Peace.