Who is the Strongest?

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“The strong man is not the one who can overpower others (in wrestling); rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets angry.”

(Reported by Ahmad, 2/236; the hadeeth is agreed upon) .

The greater the anger, the higher the status of the one who controls himself.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“The strongest man is the one who, when he gets angry and his face reddens and his hackles rise, is able to defeat his anger.”

(Reported by Imam Ahmad, 5/367; Hasan)

Anas reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) passed by some people who were wrestling.

He asked, “What is this?”

They said: “So-and-so is the strongest, he can beat anybody.”

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Shall I not tell you who is even stronger then him? The man who, when he is mistreated by another, controls his anger, has defeated his own Shaytan (devil) and the Shaytan of the one who made him angry.”

(Reported by al-Bazzaar, Saheeh)