The Qur’an as a Cure

Allah ﷻ tells us in  the Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ … يونس : ٥٧

“O Mankind! There has come to you an advice from your Lord and a cure for what is in the hearts and a guidance and mercy for the believers.” (Surah Yunus, Ayah 57)

In the Arabic language the word ‘Shifa’ simply means a remedy, or a cure for an ailment.
Allah Almighty refers to His Glorious Book as a ‘Shifa’.

What is the Qur’an a cure for?

Allah himself answers this Question when He says:

وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ

A cure for what is in the hearts (of Man).

Let’s take a look at some maladies of the heart which are at times also referred to as Akhlaq-e-Radhila, or Blameworthy character traits.

Hypocrisy (Nifaq), Envy (Hasad), Malice(Hiqd), Miserliness (Bukhl), Greed (Hirs), Ostentation (Riya), Backbiting (Ghiba), Arrogance (Kibr), Lying (Kithb), Prolonged Hopes (Tul ul Amal), Love for the world (Hubb ud Dunya), Love for wealth (Hubb Ul Maal) and Love for Fame (Hubb al Jah).

Why is it so important to seek a cure for these diseases?

The maladies of the heart are more deadly than physical diseases. While physical diseases cleanse a sinful person, the diseases of the heart lead a person to destruction. Allah Almighty informs us in the glorious Quran that on the Day of Resurrection, nothing will avail a person, not the person’s wealth, nor his progeny. The only thing of benefit will be Qalbun Saleem (A purified heart).

We therefore see that cleansing our hearts of these maladies is indeed a requirement for us to succeed on that fateful day.

How do we use this cure?

The Glorious Quran is enriched with essential cures to help us rid ourselves of false beliefs and bad character. By studying the Quran we will undoubtedly be inspired to seek cures from its wisdom.

Let’s take the example of Shirk (ascribing partners to Allah). Even as believers we still unknowingly indulge in ‘Minor Shirk’. We do this by placing our reliance on other dependant beings believing that these things can relieve us of our difficulties, and we look to other than Allah for approval. Whereas Allah Ta’ala tells us that we must have complete Tawakkul (trust) in him. We learn from this example, how, by understanding these, as well as other similar verses, we can cure ourselves of this subtle disease.

Another example is that of Bukhl (Stinginess). In the Quran, Allah exhorts us to spend in his path, and he refers to those people who do so as ‘Muhsineen’ – those who do good. Allah Almighty also tells us in the Quran of the fickle nature of this world compared to the infinite treasures promised in the afterlife.

Why are we deprived of the cure and guidance of Quran?

Ahadeeth state that when sins are committed, black spots appear on the heart. These accumulate until the entire heart is blackened and callous. One of the effects of this is that we are unable to enjoy doing good deeds, hence, we end up abandoning them out of lack of pleasure.

Today we are deprived of appreciating the Quran and taking pleasure in understanding and reciting it, due to our sins. If we wish to benefit from the gems of Quran, we should strive to avoid sin.

Is the Quran only a cure for spiritual diseases or is it a cure for physical diseases too?

Just as the Quran is a spiritual cure, similarly, the Quran can also be used to heal physical illnesses. This is achieved* by supplicating to Allah with the relevant intentions, seeking the barakaat (blessings) of specific Quranic Ayaat. These blessings can then act as a cure or preventative to various diseases of the physical body, through the will of Allah.

If the Quran is brought into our lives, its teachings will cure our sick hearts and set right the diseases prevalent in today’s society, from injustice to immorality.

I pray to Allah who is Shaafi’al Amradh (One who cures the sick) to open our hearts to the Shifa of the Quran.

In Sha Allah, in the next post we shall discuss the Quran as ‘HUDA’ (A Guidance)

*under the guidance of Ulama

Characteristics of the Qur’an Series:

Introduction – The Reality

Part 1 – The Qur’an as Advice

Part 2 – The Qur’an as a Cure

Part 3 – The Qur’an as a Guidance

Part 4 – The Qur’an as a Mercy