The Disease And The Cure (Ad Da Wa Dawa)

About The Disease and the Cure

The Disease and the Cure (Arabic: Ad-Daa’ wa ad-Dawaa’) is a classic work by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah on the diseases of the heart and how to treat them. It begins with a question put to the Imam about a person who suffers from a disease and knows that, if it continues, it will damage his life. In reply, the Imam recalls the words of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, reported in Sahih al-Bukhari, that Allah has not sent down a disease without also sending down its cure. He then applies this principle to the diseases of the heart, the soul and the body.

The central idea is simple and serious: the health of the servant’s heart matters even more than the health of his body, and sin is one of the greatest causes of spiritual sickness. The book explains how sins weaken faith, harden the heart and take away peace, and then shows the way back to health.

What you will find inside

• How sin harms the heart, the mind and a person’s relationship with Allah
• The role of sincere supplication (dua) and the conditions that make it effective
• Repentance (tawbah): what it requires and why no one should despair of Allah’s mercy
• Warnings about shirk and about hopelessness
• How the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ bring healing to the heart

About the author, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (1292 to 1350 CE) was a scholar of Damascus and a well-known student of Ibn Taymiyyah. He wrote widely on creed, jurisprudence and the purification of the soul, and his books are still read and studied around the world today. This title is among his most widely read works on spiritual self-improvement.

Who should read this book

The Disease and the Cure is written for any Muslim who wants to understand why the heart becomes troubled and how to heal it. It suits students of knowledge, readers of Islamic self-improvement, and anyone looking for honest, scripture-based advice during a hard time. It also makes a thoughtful gift.

Edition details

This edition of The Disease and the Cure is an English paperback published by Hikmah Publications. The book is written by Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah.

How to read it well

The Disease and the Cure is a book to read slowly and reflect on. Many readers take a short section at a time, pause to think about their own habits, and make a sincere intention to turn back to Allah. Keeping a notebook for lessons and reminders is a good habit, and the book is also well suited to group reading and study circles.

Why The Disease and the Cure is worth owning

Few books speak so directly to the daily struggle of a believer with sin, heedlessness and hardness of heart. Readers often return to it again and again, because its reminders feel fresh at every stage of life. It is a book to keep within reach, to share with friends and family, and to give as a gift on occasions such as Ramadan, a wedding or a new beginning.

Frequently asked questions

Is this book in English? Yes. This is the English edition, published by Hikmah Publications.

What is The Disease and the Cure about? It looks at sin as a disease of the heart and offers the cure: repentance, supplication and a return to the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Is it suitable for beginners? Yes. The theme is easy to follow, and it is helpful for readers at any level.

Can it be read in parts? Yes. The chapters stand well on their own, so you can read them in any order and return to the topics you need most.

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