Quran Verses About Anger
The Quran does not pretend anger away — it praises 'those who restrain anger and who pardon the people' (3:134) and describes the righteous as people who, 'when they are angry, they forgive' (42:37). Its strategy is response, not suppression: repel evil with what is better (41:34) and answer the ignorant with peace (25:63). These eight ayahs are the Quran's anger management.
Updated July 16, 2026
- Surah Ali 'Imran 3:134
ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلۡكَٰظِمِينَ ٱلۡغَيۡظَ وَٱلۡعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
Those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good
The famous triad Allah loves — giving in all seasons, restraining anger, and pardoning people.
- Surah Ash-Shuraa 42:37
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَجۡتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُواْ هُمۡ يَغۡفِرُونَ
And those who shun the worst of sins and indecencies and, when they are wroth, forgive
The righteous get angry too — the difference is what happens next: 'when they are angry, they forgive.'
- Surah Fussilat 41:34
وَلَا تَسۡتَوِي ٱلۡحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُۚ ٱدۡفَعۡ بِٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِي بَيۡنَكَ وَبَيۡنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٞ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٞ
The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend
The alchemy of a better response — repel evil with good, and an enemy can become a devoted friend.
- Surah Al-A'raf 7:199
خُذِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡعُرۡفِ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِينَ
Keep to forgiveness (O Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant
A three-part rule of engagement — take what is given freely, enjoin good, and turn away from the ignorant.
- Surah Al-Furqan 25:63
وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡشُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ هَوۡنٗا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلۡجَٰهِلُونَ قَالُواْ سَلَٰمٗا
The (faithful) slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish ones address them answer: Peace
The composure of the servants of the Most Merciful — harsh words are answered with words of peace.
- Surah An-Nahl 16:126
وَإِنۡ عَاقَبۡتُمۡ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثۡلِ مَا عُوقِبۡتُم بِهِۦۖ وَلَئِن صَبَرۡتُمۡ لَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لِّلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
If ye punish, then punish with the like of that wherewith ye were afflicted. But if ye endure patiently, verily it is better for the patient
Retaliation is capped at equivalence — but patience is declared better for the patient.
- Surah Al-Anbya 21:87
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبٗا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبۡحَٰنَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him, but he cried out in the darkness, saying: There is no Allah save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer
Yunus left his people in anger — and from the darkness called out in repentance, a warning about where anger can carry us.
- Surah Ash-Shuraa 42:43
وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ
And verily whoso is patient and forgiveth - lo! that, verily, is (of) the steadfast heart of things
Patience plus forgiveness is ranked among 'the matters requiring determination' — the hardest and highest response.
Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani (public domain). English translation: Marmaduke Pickthall, “The Meaning of the Glorious Koran” (1930) — public domain.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Quran say about controlling anger?
It praises those who restrain anger and pardon people, calling them doers of good whom Allah loves (3:134), and describes the righteous as those who forgive when angry (42:37). The recommended response to provocation is peace (25:63) and repelling evil with what is better (41:34).
Is anger always sinful in Islam?
No — anger is a human response the Quran acknowledges; even Prophet Yunus 'went off in anger' (21:87). What matters is the response: forgiveness, restraint, and not letting anger drive you from your duty.
What should I do when someone provokes me?
The Quran's playbook: answer with words of peace (25:63), repel the evil with something better (41:34), keep any response within equivalence — and prefer patience, which it calls better (16:126).
Sit with these ayahs, not just skim them
Read each verse in its surah, favorite the ones that hold you, and ask Noor about anything unclear — free to start.
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