About the Series
A Treasury from Experts on the Heart
The Medicine of the Hearts is a curated series of selected passages drawn from the writings of two of Islam's most celebrated scholars: Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH رحمه الله) and his distinguished student Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH رحمه الله). Together, they represent perhaps the most authoritative voices in the Islamic tradition on matters of the heart, the self, and the spiritual journey.
This series is not abstract philosophy — it is a practical manual for those who wish to know themselves, discipline their inner lives, and draw closer to Allah through rigorous, scripturally-grounded self-reform.
Each volume in this series highlights key verses of the Qur'ān and authentic hadīth, situating classical scholarly guidance within the living tradition of the Sunnah. The series is designed for English-speaking Muslims and sincere spiritual seekers who desire access to this profound tradition in a clear, accessible form.
Whether you are new to the study of tazkiyah al-nafs or have long walked the path of inner reform, these volumes offer something rare: depth without esotericism, rigor without harshness, and warmth rooted firmly in the Book and the Sunnah.
The Scholars Behind the Series
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله
Shaykh al-Islām Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH) was among the most prolific and influential scholars in Islamic history. His command of Qur'ān, Sunnah, fiqh, and the sciences of the heart was unparalleled. His writings on tazkiyah and 'ubūdiyyah remain foundational texts for students of Islamic spirituality grounded in the Salafi methodology.
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله
Imām Shams al-Dīn Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (691–751 AH) was Ibn Taymiyyah's most devoted student and the scholar arguably most prolific in writing about the medicine of the heart. Works such as Madārij al-Sālikīn, Rawdah al-Muhibbīn, and Ighāthat al-Lahfān stand as monuments of classical Islamic spiritual literature.
Book One
Winning the War Within
The Heart, the Self, Angels & Devils
Journey into the depths of the human spirit and discover the battleground within us all. This first volume in the series unveils the states of the heart and self — explaining the functions, strengths, and vulnerabilities of each — through the words of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, guided at every step by the Qur'ān and authentic Sunnah.
A good heart is not merely an abstract concept; it is the very key to a fulfilled life. This book explains why, and how to guard what Allah has entrusted to us.
What Winning the War Within Covers
The States of the Heart
A detailed exploration of the heart's conditions — the living heart, the sick heart, and the dead heart — and what causes each state. Understand the spiritual anatomy that only Allah fully sees, and learn what it means to possess a sound heart (qalb salīm).
The Self and Its Dangers
The untamed self (nafs) is among the greatest threats to the heart's health. This volume reveals how an unrefined self provides fodder for Shaytān's attacks, and offers practical, classical strategies for disciplining and refining one's inner life.
Angels, Devils & the Inner War
In its powerful conclusion, the book unveils the unseen spiritual warfare within every human being — depicting the roles of angels and devils in this internal battle and its profound impact on our inner states, moral character, and daily conduct.
"A good heart is not merely an abstract concept — it is the very key to a fulfilled life. Shaytān holds no power over the true believer who has fortified the heart with faith and the remembrance of Allah."— From Winning the War Within, drawing on Ibn al-Qayyim & Ibn Taymiyyah رحمهما الله
Inner Resilience
Faith is the heart's greatest armor. This book shows how īmān fortifies the believer against the constant assault of the self and the whispers of Shaytān.
Divine Remembrance
The potency of dhikr as a weapon of spiritual defense is explored in depth — not as ritual alone, but as a living, transformative force that revives the heart.
A Manual for Reform
Practical, actionable, and grounded in scripture — this is not a book of vague inspiration but a rigorous guide for genuine inner change.
Book Two
Fleeing to Allah
The Salaf and the Journey of Inner Growth
The second volume in the series turns to the science of the spiritual journey in Islam — 'ilm al-sulūk — through the lens of the pious predecessors (al-Salaf al-Sālih). It is the migration of the soul to Allah and the Hereafter, upon the path of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
The Many Names of the Spiritual Journey
The classical scholars referred to the science of inner growth by many names, each illuminating a different dimension of the same sacred path:
1
Al-Istiqāmah
Steadfastness — remaining upright upon the straight path in all circumstances
2
Al-'Ubūdiyyah
Servitude — the complete devotion of the heart and limbs to Allah alone
3
Al-Zuhd
Asceticism — detachment from the world in pursuit of what is with Allah
4
Tazkiyah al-Nafs
Self-purification — cleansing the soul of its diseases and adorning it with virtues
5
Tahdhīb al-Akhlāq
Character reformation — the disciplined refinement of one's moral and spiritual nature
What Fleeing to Allah Covers
1
The Way of the Salaf
The pious predecessors walked the wisest, most knowledgeable, and safest path in both knowledge and action. This volume establishes their approach as the true standard for the spiritual journey — grounded in the Qur'ān, Sunnah, and sound 'aqīdah.
2
Stations and Hazards of the Path
A primer on the stations of the spiritual path — and its hazards. The book identifies the greatest pitfalls awaiting the sincere seeker, including the grave dangers lurking in the Sufi approach that has confused so many Muslims about the nature of self-purification.
3
Quality Over Quantity
The Salaf prioritized striving diligently with the heart while maintaining moderation in outward worship. This principle — depth over mere quantity — is at the heart of lasting spiritual transformation and genuine happiness.
A Timely Remedy
In this modern era — marked by spiritual emptiness, confusion of identity, and an inhumane pace of life — people are searching for meaning. This collection of classical scholarly advices serves as a timely, proven remedy for what ails humankind.
The heart, when it comes to life through the remembrance of Allah and the discipline of the Salaf, blesses its bearer with happiness, resilience, and clarity of purpose — even amid the greatest of trials.
"When the heart comes to life in such a fashion, the believer enjoys happiness and is blessed with great resilience."
The Danger of Confusing Sufism with Self-Purification
Among the most important contributions of Fleeing to Allah is its careful, evidence-based treatment of a confusion that has misled generations of sincere Muslims: the equation of tazkiyah al-nafs with Sufism. Because so many seekers associate self-purification with Sufi orders and practices, this volume takes the time to explain — clearly and compassionately — the grave dangers of the Sufi methodology.
The Sufi approach, however well-intentioned in many of its adherents, introduces innovations and deviations that undermine the very goal it claims to pursue. True inner growth must be anchored in the Qur'ān, authentic Sunnah, and the methodology of the Salaf — not the tarīqah system, saint veneration, or mystical frameworks foreign to the early community.
This is not a polemic but a service to seekers: knowing what to avoid is as vital as knowing the path forward. Fleeing to Allah equips the reader to distinguish the authentic from the counterfeit, guarding the sincerity of their journey.
The Heart of the Series
Why These Books Matter
Scripturally Grounded
Every concept is anchored in Qur'ānic verses and authentic hadīth. This is not spiritual self-help dressed in Islamic language — it is the genuine classical tradition, presented clearly for the English-speaking reader.
Deeply Practical
These volumes function as manuals for real change. The reader is not left with inspiration alone but with understanding — of themselves, their heart's states, and the concrete steps toward genuine reform.
Methodologically Safe
Rooted firmly in the methodology of the Salaf, these books guide the reader away from the pitfalls of innovation and excess — toward the balanced, proven path that the best generations walked.
The Medicine of the Hearts series walks the reader through each of these stages — from honest self-knowledge, through the recognition of the inner struggle, toward a purified heart that has been revived and strengthened. This is the journey of every sincere believer, and it begins with knowledge.
Who Is This Series For?
Your Guide Wherever You Are on the Path
Students of Qur'ān & Sunnah
For those grounded in Islamic knowledge who seek to apply what they know to the inner dimensions of the deen — moving from head to heart.
Seekers of Tazkiyah
For those who feel the pull toward self-purification and inner reform but need a reliable, scripturally anchored guide that keeps them on the straight path.
Spiritual Seekers
For those — Muslim or genuinely curious — who sense that the answers to humanity's deepest questions lie in the health of the heart, and who want to explore that truth through the richest classical tradition.
Concerned Muslims
For those who have encountered Sufi ideas and wish to understand how authentic self-purification differs — and how to protect themselves and their families from confusion on this critical matter.
The Two Books at a Glance
Begin the Journey
The Heart Awaits Its Medicine
The greatest distance a person will ever travel is the distance from their own heedlessness to the awareness of Allah. These books are a guide for that journey — drawn from the words of scholars who gave their lives to illuminating the path, rooted in the Qur'ān and Sunnah, and offered now to a generation that needs them more than ever.
Begin with whichever volume calls to you. Both stand on their own and both are better together. The medicine is available — the question is whether the heart is ready to receive it.