Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah
Types of Diseases That Attack the Heart and Their Cure

Excerpted from Chapter 1 in “Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam”

There are two types of diseases that attack the heart, one doubt and error, and the second lust and desire; both are mentioned in the Qur’an. Allah says about the disease of doubt:

“In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease.” (2:10)

And He said:

“…and that those in whose hearts is a disease (of hypocrisy) and the disbelievers may say: ‘What Allah intends by this (curious) example?’” (74:31)

Allah says concerning those who refuse to make the Qur’an and Sunnah the basis of their judgments:

“And when they are called to Allah (i.e., His Words, the Qur’an) and His Messenger, to judge between them, lo! a party of them refuses (to come) and turns away. But if the truth is on their side, they come to him willingly with submission. Is there a disease in their hearts? Or do they doubt or fear lest Allah and His Messenger should wrong them in judgement? Nay, it is they themselves who are the Dhalimoon (polytheists, hypocrites and wrongdoers).” (24:48-50)

This is the disease of doubt and error.

Also, Allah says about desire and lust, adultery in this case:

“O wives of the Prophet! You are not likely any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose hearts is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire…” (33:32)

…

Providing proper remedies for ailments of the heart (referring to spiritual and emotional ailments) only occurs at the hands of the Prophets, alaihim as salam, and Messengers of Allah. The heart becomes well when it acquires knowledge of its Lord and Creator and in His Names, Attributes, Actions and Commandments. The heart also becomes well when it prefers acquiring Allah’s Pleasure and prefers what He likes, all the while avoiding His prohibitions and what might lead to His displeasure. There is no life, health, or wellbeing for the heart except by this method, which only the Messengers can provide. It is wrong to think that one can ever attain the heart’s wellbeing through any other way than through the guidance of the Messengers of Allah. These errors result from confusing the heart’s true wellbeing with satisfying and strengthening its lower animal lusts and desires. By this way the heart will be far from acquiring its true wellbeing, strength and even its very existence will be in danger. Those who do not distinguish between these two paths should grieve for their heart’s life and health, or in fact for the lack of it. Let such people also grieve because of their lacking the light of true guidance and because they are completely in an ocean of darkness.

ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned ten causes that result in Allah’s love for His slave and the slave’s love for his Lord. [These ten are:]

First, reciting the Qur’an while pondering over its meanings and what is meant by it.

Second, getting closer to Allah by performing voluntary deeds after completing obligatory deeds. This is as is stated in a Hadith Qudsi: “My slave continues getting closer to Me by performing voluntary deeds until I love him.” [al-Bukhari]

Third, continual remembrance of Allah under all circumstances, with one’s tongue, heart and actions. The extent of one’s love of Allah is determined by this.

Fourth, giving precedence to what He loves over what you love when you are overtaken by your desires.

Fifth, the heart being avid of Allah’s Names, and Attributes and the heart roaming in that garden of knowledge.

Sixth, observing Allah’s kindness, goodness and bounties, both hidden and open.

Seventh, and this is the most wonderful, the heart being soft, subdued and meek before Allah.

Eighth, being alone with Allah during the time when the Lord descends during the last portion of the night while reading His Book and ending that by asking for forgiveness and repenting.

Ninth, sitting with the beloved and sincere, benefitting from the most fruitful of their speech. And not to speak unless speaking is more beneficial and you know that it will improve your state and be beneficial to others.

Tenth, remaining away from every cause that comes between the heart and Allah.

These ten causes take the lovers to the station of true love and bring them to their Beloved.

Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Ighatul-Lahfaan min Masaa`id al-Shaytan

It is obvious to anyone with reason that Satan has greatly manipulated these misled people (Christians). He called them and they responded to him; he befooled them and they obeyed him.

He manipulated them with regards to Allah, the Exalted and Most High.
He manipulated them with regards to Jesus (peace be upon him).
He manipulated them with regards to the cross and the worship of it.

He also manipulated them with regards to making pictures and statues in churches and then worshipping them, so you will not find one of their churches without the picture of Mary and Jesus, saints and other holy individuals and martyrs of theirs. Most of them prostrate to pictures and statues, and pray to them instead to Allah the Most High…

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The Great Benefit and Virtue of Supplication
Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Taken from ‘ad-Daa`u wa ad-Dwaa`u’ of Imaam ibn al-Qayyim

It is the weapon of the believer as is reported by al-Haakim in his ‘Mustadrak’ from the hadeeth of Alee bin Abee Taalib (RA) from the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) that he said, “supplication is the weapon of the believer, the pillar of the religion, and the light of the heaven and earth.”

CHAPTER ONE: SUPPLICATION IS A CURE

[Takhreej by Shaykh Alee Hasan with some summary]

Supplication is from the most beneficial types of healing, it is the enemy of illness and affliction - repressing it and treating it, preventing its occurrence, removing it or at least alleviating it. It is the weapon of the believer as is reported by al-Haakim in his ‘Mustadrak’ from the hadeeth of Alee bin Abee Taalib (RA) from the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) that he said, “supplication is the weapon of the believer, the pillar of the religion, and the light of the heaven and earth.” [Abu Ya`laa [no. 439], ibn Adee [2/296], al-Haakim [1/492] and al-Qudaa`ee [no. 143].

The hadeeth is maudu` as declared by al-Albaanee.

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ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah

From among the stations of worshipping Allah and seeking His help is the station of fear.

Fear is one of the most important stations on the path and most beneficial for the heart. Fear is an obligation upon everyone, Allah said, “So fear them not, and fear Me alone, if you are believers.” [3:175] (The actual word used for fear in this verse is ‘khawf.’) Another verse says, “And Me alone you all should fear,” [2:40] the actual word being a derivative of ‘rahba.’ And, “So do not fear people, but fear Me,” [5:44] the actual word in Arabic being ‘khashya.’ Different connotations of these various terms in Arabic for fear will be discussed shortly.

Allah has praised those who possess the attribute of fear saying, “And such (are the believers) who are humbled by the fear of their Lord…” [23:57]

Fear (of Allah’s displeasure or punishment) is not only for grave sinners, but also for the pious, observant believers, as in the following hadeeth: Aisha said, “O Messenger of Allah, is the verse “And those who dispense their charity while their hearts fear that to their Lord they must return” [23:60] referring to someone who commits fornication, drinks alcohol and steals and still fear Allah? The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “No, O daughter of as-Siddiq, but it refers to one who fasts, perform salah and gives charity, and fears that it may not be accepted from him.” (Tirmithi) Al-Hasan, commenting on this, said, “By Allah, they (the Companions) obeyed Him and strove hard in it, yet they feared it might be rejected. A believer combines righteousness with fear in his heart, while a hypocrite combines evil with impunity.”

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