Are the two Hadiths: "He who is provoked to anger yet does not get angry is a donkey" and "He who is appeased yet is not pleased is a devil" from the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, or from the words of Imam Al-Shafi'i, and do they contradict Islam's command to control anger?

This statement was attributed by Al-Bayhaqi to Al-Shafi'i, and this is the prevalent view. Some attributed it to Ja'far al-Sadiq or Al-Hasan, but it is not authentically traceable back to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

The meaning of the statement is: It is not correct to praise anger unconditionally. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade it and encouraged patience. He encompassed the good of this world and the Hereafter in his saying, "Do not get angry," because anger leads to estrangement and harming others.

There is, however, praiseworthy anger, which is anger for the sake of Allah when His sacred limits are violated. This is what Al-Shafi'i's saying is understood to mean, and it indicates the moderation of the power of anger, where zeal is aroused when it is due and subsides when forbearance is appropriate. This is the straight path that Allah has enjoined upon His servants, and the best of matters are their moderate ones. As for excessive anger, it is highly reprehensible because it goes beyond the control of reason and religion, blinds its possessor to every admonition, and intensifies its own blaze. And as for the deficiency of it, it is also highly reprehensible because it indicates a lack of zeal and protective indignation.

Reprehensible anger is that which is for falsehood, whereas that which is for Allah is praiseworthy. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, became angry for Allah when His sacred limits were violated. As for being pleased with one who seeks رضا (satisfaction), that is commendable.