Bad-Temperedness Undermines Trust in Society
What are the things that undermine trust in society and make people move away from one another?
Among them are bad-temperedness, grumpiness and irritability. These characteristics give rise to spitefulness and hate.
A bad-tempered person who is unable to control his temper causes others to be offended. As a result, his social life is threatened and he may not be able to attend gatherings and have interactions with people. That is why Imam Ali (AS) says in a Hadith that a bad-tempered person has no life as both he and those around him suffer from his temper.
So those who suffer from this moral vice must begin to cure it as soon as possible, using the advice of ethics scholars.
One thing they can do is think about the consequences of their behavior and review the words of great religious figures about the outcomes of bad-temperedness and the need to avoid it.
Sometimes bad-temperedness is the result of companionship with bad-tempered individuals. So on may have become bad-tempered after associating with such people for a long time. If he wants to get rid of this moral vice, he should try to stay away from them as much as he can and instead start associating with good-tempered people.
The Holy Quran, which is the ultimate guide for mankind, cites some instances of bad-temperedness and warns people to avoid them:
1- Haughtiness
God says in the Holy Quran: “Do not scornfully turn your face away from people. Do not walk around puffed-up with pride; God does not love arrogant and boastful people.” (Verse 18 of Surah Luqman)
2- Raising One’s Voice
God says in the next verse: “And pursue the right course in your going about and lower your voice; surely the most hateful of voices is braying of donkeys.” (Verse 19 of Surah Luqman)
