a strong person. Health is preserved by like conditions and lost through contrary ones, while illness is aggravated by conditions like those that caused it and dispelled by their opposite. If a sick person encounters something like the cause of his illness, his illness increases and his strength diminishes further, until he may even perish. If, however, he encounters what restores his strength and dispels his illness, the opposite occurs.

“Illness of the heart” is pain that arises in the heart, such as rage at an enemy who has overpowered you, for this causes the heart pain. Allah Most High says:

“and heal the hearts of a believing people”

“and remove the rage from their hearts.”

Their healing consists in the removal of the pain that has arisen in their hearts. Thus, one says, “So-and-so’s rage has been soothed.” Retaliatory execution likewise brings relief to the slain person’s next of kin, and there are other such examples. This is healing from distress, rage, and sorrow, all of which are pains that arise in the soul.

“Doubt and ignorance” likewise cause the heart pain. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Why did they not ask when they did not know? The cure for ignorance is simply to ask.”

Someone who doubts something and is uncertain about it feels pain in his heart until he attains knowledge and certainty. One may say to a scholar whose answer makes the truth clear, “He has healed me with his answer.”

Illness falls short of death: the heart dies through complete ignorance and becomes ill through a particular kind of ignorance. Thus, it experiences death, illness, life, and healing. Its life, death, illness, and healing are more consequential than those of the body. Hence, when a doubt or desire comes upon a diseased heart, it aggravates its illness; but if wisdom and admonition reach it, they are among