Al-Da' wa-al-Dawa' الداء والدواء (Dar al-Minhaj al-Qaweem)

Al-Da’ wa-al-Dawa’ (الداء والدواء - The Disease and the Cure), also known as Al-Jawab al-Kafi li-man Sa’ala ‘an al-Dawa’ al-Shafi (الجواب الكافي لمن سأل عن الدواء الشافي), is one of the most celebrated works on spiritual purification by the renowned Hanbali scholar Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d. 751 AH). Written in response to a man seeking relief from a spiritual affliction that threatened both his worldly life and his Hereafter, the book grew into a timeless guide to diagnosing and treating the diseases of the heart.

Drawing upon the Quran, Sunnah, and profound spiritual insight, Ibn al-Qayyim explains that just as every physical illness has a cure, every spiritual disease also has a remedy by Allah's permission. He explores the destructive effects of sin, showing how it weakens faith, deprives a person of beneficial knowledge, hardens the heart, and creates barriers between the servant and Allah. He also examines the dangers of obsessive worldly attachment and misplaced love, contrasting it with the life-giving love of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

Throughout the book, Ibn al-Qayyim presents the means of spiritual healing, emphasizing sincere repentance, heartfelt supplication, remembrance of Allah, mindfulness of His constant presence, and complete reliance upon Tawhid. His discussion combines theological depth with practical guidance, making the work as relevant today as it was centuries ago.

This edition from Dar al-Minhaj al-Qaweem has been critically verified from multiple manuscripts to establish the most authentic text. It includes comprehensive hadith referencing and authentication, explanatory footnotes for difficult vocabulary and expressions, and careful editorial work that corrects errors found in earlier commercial editions.

Al-Da’ wa-al-Dawa’ remains one of the finest classical manuals on Tazkiyat al-Nafs (spiritual purification), offering timeless guidance for anyone seeking to overcome the diseases of the heart and strengthen their relationship with Allah.