He reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Who do you reckon to be the one who most often throws people down (in a fight)?" They replied, "The one whom men do not throw down." He said, "No the one who throws people down is the person who controls himself when he is angry."
Hadith Text
He reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Who do you reckon to be the one who most often throws people down (in a fight)?" They replied, "The one whom men do not throw down." He said, "No the one who throws people down is the person who controls himself when he is angry."
Source Reference
Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 155
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith redefines the concept of true strength and victory. The companions initially understood physical dominance as the measure of one who "throws people down," but the Prophet ﷺ corrected this worldly understanding.
The true victor is not the one with physical might who cannot be overpowered, but rather the one who conquers his own nafs (self) during moments of anger. This requires greater courage and strength than physical combat.
Controlling anger represents the pinnacle of spiritual mastery and moral excellence. The one who restrains himself from acting upon rage has achieved a victory over his lower self that far surpasses any physical triumph.
This teaching aligns with the Quranic principle that "the strong person is not the one who overcomes people by his strength, but the strong person is the one who controls himself while in anger" (Bukhari). It emphasizes that true power lies in self-restraint and moral discipline.