Encyclopedia of Translated Hadiths (HadeethEnc) · Virtues and Manners
Number: 5351
The strong man is not the one who can overpower others; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he is angry
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The strong man is not the one who can overpower others; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he is angry."
Translation by HadeethEnc.com
Grade[Authentic][Agreed upon]
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) points out that true strength is not the strength of a person's body or his ability to overpower other strong men. But a truly strong person is one who strives to control and restrain himself while in a fit of rage. This indicates the power he exercises over himself and his ability to overpower the devil.
Benefits of the hadith
- The Hadīth points out the merit of forbearance and self-restraint while in anger and that it is one of the righteous acts encouraged by Islam.
- Self-restraint in the moment of anger is more difficult than striving against the enemy.
- Islam has transformed the jāhiliyyah (ignorance) notion of strength into noble manners. The most powerful person is he who maintains great self-restraint.
- We should avoid anger, given its harmful effects on individuals as well as society.
HadeethEnc.com · English edition v1.25.0, updated 2026-05-10 · Open on HadeethEnc.com