In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Al-Hasan Al-Basri [rahimahullaah] said, “Whoever adheres to four affairs, Allaah will protect him from shaytaan and safeguard him from the fire of hell: the one who controls himself when desirous pof something, controls himself when in a state of fear, controls himself when inclined towards lowly desires and when angry”.

Imaam Ibn Rajab [rahimahullaah] said,

These four affairs mentioned by Al-Hasan [rahimahullaah] are the beginning of every evil. Being desirous of something is the heart’s inclination towards it in order to secure its benefit. The one who has a desire for something may be led to seek after it through every path that will lead him to it, but it may be that most of what is related to this thing is unlawful and maybe the thing itself is unlawful. Fear: When a person fears something, he looks for every means he think will repel it; but it maybe that most of that is unlawful. Lowly desires: It is the soul’s inclination towards that which gives it enjoyment and it maybe that it inclines mostly towards that which is unlawful, such fornication, theft and alcohol consumption; rather maybe towards disbelief, magic, hypocrisy and bidah [religious innovation]. Anger: It is a rush of blood to the heart out of seeking to repel harm when one fears that it will befall him or out of seeking revenge against the one who harmed you. Many unlawful deeds results from this, such as murder, hitting people and various types of oppression and transgression, as well as many unlawful statements, such as slander, insult and lewd speech, rather it might even get to the level of a statement that is tantamount to disbelief. [Ref 1]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

 وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ

And were Allah to hasten for mankind the evil (they invoke) as He hastens for them the good (they invoke) then they would have been ruined. [Soorah Yoonus: Ayah: 11]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:

The Salaf (pious predecessors) stated that it is the supplication of the person against himself, his children and family whilst in a state of anger. Had Allaah [The Most High] answered his invocation, it would have destroyed him and the one he supplicated against, but Allaah does not answer his supplication due to His knowledge that the suppliant does not intend it. [Ref 2]

[Ref 1: Jaami’ul Uloom Wal-Hikam 193-194]

[Ref 2: An Excerpt from Badaa-I At-Tafseer Al-Jaami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imaam Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah. Vol 2. page:31]