Winning the War Within
The Heart, The Self, Angels, and Devils — an original work drawing from the classical Islamic tradition on purifying the heart, disciplining the self, and safeguarding the soul.
The Medicine of the Hearts
Ṭibb al-Qulūb
This book is the first in a series on "Ṭibb al-Qulūb" — the medicine of the hearts. It collects invaluable selections from the classical writings of scholars on purifying the heart, disciplining the self, refining moral character, and safeguarding against Shayṭān's traps.
The primary source is the exhaustive work of Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH), who drew upon the Qur'ān, the Sunnah, and generations of scholarship to masterfully outline and explain these topics — building upon the teachings of Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH).
Why This Subject Matters Most
There is so much to learn in Islām, yet often the ultimate purpose of that learning — to rectify the heart — is neglected. Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal was once asked a question and famously replied:
"Look at what is best for your heart and do it."
Everything of knowledge and implementation in the religion is medicine for the hearts and a cure for societal ills. This subject is therefore the ultimate objective for the seeker of knowledge.
Scholars on the Diseases of the Heart
Ibn Taymiyyah
"The religion is the medicine of the hearts and the Prophets are the doctors for the hearts and religious matters."
Ibn al-Qayyim
"The diseases of the hearts are more difficult than the diseases of the bodies. The ultimate consequence of a bodily illness is death, whereas the illness of the heart leads its possessor to eternal misery. There is no cure for this disease except through knowledge."
Ibn al-Qayyim
"The heart's need for knowledge is not like the need of breathing for air; rather it is greater."
The Only True Path to a Healthy Heart
Ibn al-Qayyim emphasizes that the medicine of the hearts is entrusted exclusively to the Prophets, and there is no way to achieve it except through them. The rectitude of the heart lies in knowing its Lord, His names, attributes, and rulings — prioritizing His pleasure and avoiding His prohibitions.
Following Prophetic Guidance
There is no health or life for the heart except through the way of the Prophets. Presuming otherwise is a blunder.
Avoiding Deviant Remedies
Whoever purifies themselves through methods not brought by the messengers is like a patient who treats themselves without a physician — using poison as a cure.
Complete Submission
"The messengers are the physicians of the hearts, and there is no way to rectify and purify them except through their guidance and complete submission to them." — Ibn al-Qayyim
The War Within
A Never-Ending Conflict in Every Human Being
The book outlines the eternal inner conflict between intellect and desires, faith and the insistence of the self, the angel and the Shayṭān — a battle between high aspiration for lofty achievement and undignified urges pursuing quick satisfaction at the expense of everlasting reward.
Chapter 1
Three Types of Heart & Three Types of the Self
The Three Hearts
Healthy
Sound, firm, and alive — the heart of the true believer.
Sick
Afflicted with disease, wavering between faith and desire.
Dead
Devoid of life — heedless of its Lord and Creator.
The Three States of the Self
At Peace
The tranquil self, at rest with its Lord.
Self-Reproaching
Internally rebuking itself — caught between good and evil.
Insistent on Evil
Commanding evil, dragging the heart toward destruction.
This chapter also explores the heart's intrinsic instability, its function and dysfunction, its firmness or flimsiness during the tempests of trials, and the concept of two hearts and two thrones.
Chapter 2
The Authority of Faith in the Heart
The second chapter outlines the necessity of strengthening the heart with emān (faith) in all its facets, so that the self and Shayṭān cannot destroy it. Faith is the source of the heart's life and strength.
1
The Source of the Heart's Life & Strength
Faith is the vital force that animates the heart and gives it resilience against trials and temptations.
2
A Good Heart is the Key to A Good Life
The condition of the heart determines the condition of one's entire life — inwardly and outwardly.
3
Building the Fortress of Faith
The chapter concludes with a framework for building the fortress of faith upon a solid, unshakeable foundation.
Chapter 3
The Untamed Self Sickens the Heart & Empowers Shayṭān
The third chapter reveals how the unrestrained inner-self becomes a weapon against the heart — and a source of power for Shayṭān. The self is a vessel to either Paradise or Hell.
The Self Empowers Shayṭān
The insistent self opens doors for Shayṭān to exploit, weakening the believer's defenses from within.
Shayṭān's 3 Points of Attack
Shayṭān has no ultimate authority over the believer, but he targets specific vulnerabilities with precision.
The Strong Believer Wears Out His Shayṭān
Through steadfastness and vigilance, the believer exhausts Shayṭān's efforts and renders his attacks ineffective.
Remembrance of Allah: The Greatest Weapon
Dhikr — the remembrance of Allah — is the most powerful weapon against Shayṭān and the main categories of evil he invites to.
"Don't Leave Me to My Self for A Moment!" — a supplication reflecting the believer's awareness of the self's danger, explored in depth in this chapter.
Chapter 4
Angels, Devils, & the War Within
The Angelic Side
Humility is one of the greatest causes of angelic support. The chapter explores the touch of an angel — its nature, its effect on the heart, and how the believer can invite and sustain that divine assistance through righteous states.
A Fuller Description of the War
This chapter provides both a broad outline and a fuller, detailed description of the war within — offering direly needed insights on how to remain vigilant and proactive throughout this lifelong conflict between the heart, the self, and Shayṭān.
The chapter concludes with a discussion of the never-ending conflict between the inner-states of the self and its traits — a conclusion that sets the stage for the book's final section.
Conclusion: When the Self Warps Reality
The conclusion is an important extension of Chapter 4. It discusses how the person's inner-self entrances them, warping their perception of reality and turning their natural potential for good into destructive ideas and traits.
Distorted Perception
The self deceives its possessor, making harmful paths appear attractive and righteous paths appear burdensome.
Corrupted Potential
Natural human potential for good is twisted by the untamed self into destructive ideas, traits, and behaviors.
The Path Forward
Awareness of this mechanism is the first step toward breaking free — and this book equips the reader with the classical tools to do so.
About This Book & Its Author
A Compiled Work of Classical Wisdom
Compiled by Abu Suhailah Umar Quinn on 2 Dhul Ḥijjah, 1444, in Maryland, USA, this book draws primarily from the monumental writings of Imām Ibn al-Qayyim — arguably the most prolific scholar to ever write exhaustively on the medicine of the hearts.
The work synthesizes the Qur'ān, the Sunnah, transmitted tafsīr from the Salaf, and centuries of scholarly insight into a clear, accessible framework for the modern reader seeking to understand and win the war within.
First in a Series
This is the first volume in a planned series on Ṭibb al-Qulūb. Allah willing, future volumes will continue to bring the classical tradition of heart-medicine to contemporary readers.
Get Your Copy
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