!ns¡ght
click here TO READ PART 1
(strongly recommended for better understanding)
Providing proper remedies for ailments of the heart (referring to spiritual or emotion ailments) only occurs at the hands of Prophets (alayhi salaam) and Messengers of Allah (azza wa jall). The heart becomes well when it acquires knowledge of its Lord and Creator and in His Names, Attributes, Actions and Commandments. The heart, in addition, 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 well being 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 (subhanahu wa ta’ala). 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 well being, 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 grieve, in addition, because of their lacking the light of true guidance and because they are completely submerged in an ocean of darkness.
Remedies for physical illnesses are divided into two categories:
One depends on instinct, which all species have. There is no need for the doctor to cure this type of illness, which entails responding to hunger, thirst, cold and fatigue.
The second requires deep thought and analysis and entails subduing and resisting the ailment, and moderating the patients condition (temperament), which can result from fever, heat, coldness, dryness, or a combination of these symptoms. These ailments have two types of causes:
- Physical, and
- One that relates to temperament
These ailments are the result of a physical cause or are due to changes that affect the mood and the temper (of the body). The difference between the two types is that the ailments of the temperament occur after the physical causes are eliminated. Their effects remain and alter the temperament. The ailments that are caused by physical elements have their causes with them. In these cases of physical disease we should look at the cause first, the ailment second and the cure third.
Further, deep thought and careful analysis are in addition required concerning repelling and removing the ailments that effect the various organs and cause some alterations in the organs whether in the shape, cavity, vessel, roughness, touch, number, bone, and so forth.
When these organs, which collectively constitute the body, are working properly they are described as being connected. Otherwise, they are described as having lost their proper connectivity.
These ailments which affect and alter the organs are included in the general ailments that affect the body.
As we have stated, these same ailments negatively affect the mood and temperament. The changes that accompany such ailments come in eight types: 4 simple types and 4 compound types.
The simple types include –
- coldness
- hotness
- wetness
- dryness
The compound types include being –
- hot and wet
- hot and dry
- cold and wet
- cold and dry
The causes of these ailments are either physical or due to changes in the mood or temperament as we have stated.
In addition, there are three states that a body can be in – normal, abnormal and in the middle (between normal and abnormal). When the state of the body is normal, the body is healthy. The second state occurs when the body is ill, while the third is in the middle, as one extreme does not become the opposite extreme, except after passing through a middle stage.
There are internal reasons for the abnormal state the body passes through, for the body consists of coldness, hotness, wetness and dryness. In addition, there external reasons for the abnormal state, which could find the body susceptible and affect it.
The potential harm inflicted on the body could result from bad temperament, that was not moderated, an ailment that attacks an organ, or a general weakness in the overall power of the body, or even the soul, which sustains such power. The ailment could be caused by an increase in what should not be increased, or a decrease in what should not be decreased. In addition, a break in the connection could be the cause, where the connection is essential, or due to a connection between that which should not be connected. The ailment could occur due to an extension of what should not be extended or an alteration and change in the shape or place of some of the body organs.
The doctor is able to distinguish between what might harm the body when connected and what should be connected. The doctor, in addition, distinguishes between what might cause harm if increased and what might cause harm if decreased. The doctor helps bring about good health or what preserves good health, and helps fend off the ailment wit h its antidote (opposite) or by using a corrective diet. You will see that these guidelines are met by the guidance and advice of the Prophet (SAW) by Allah’s (azza wa jall) Will, Power and Support.
SOURCE : HEALING WITH THE MEDICINE OF THE PROPHET
AUTHOR: IMAM IBN QAYYIM AL JAUZIYAH(RA)
TRANSLATION BY: ABD EL QADER, THE SON OF ABD EL AZEEZ
INSIGHT CLAIMS NO RIGHT OVER THE TEXT. PROVIDED ONLY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, TO SPREAD THE WORD OF ALLAH (AZZA WA JALL) AND THE SUNNAH OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON HIM).