Therapy from the Qur'an and Sunnah: A Guide to the Three-Book Series by Dr. Feryad Hussain

Allah says:

O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.

— Surah Yunus 10:57

Anger, grief, anxiety and habits a person cannot seem to break are part of being human. The Qur'an speaks to what is in the breasts, and the Sunnah gives the believer a way to govern what he feels. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 6114

The Therapy from the Qur'an and Sunnah series by Dr. Feryad A. Hussain, published by International Islamic Publishing House, takes up these struggles across three books: character, emotions and behaviour. This guide covers what each volume does and the order to read them in.

Book 1: A Reference Guide for Character Development

A Reference Guide for Character Development

The first volume sets out the framework the whole series rests on: how the Qur'an and Sunnah describe the human self, the nafs and the heart, and how spiritual and emotional wellbeing relate to one another.

Its central point is that improving one's character is not self-improvement in the secular sense. It is an act of worship: bringing one's character into line with what Allah has commanded and what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) modelled. The book pairs that guidance with practical tools.

Who it is for: anyone working on their own character, and Muslim counsellors and teachers who support others.

Book 2: Managing Your Emotions

Managing Your Emotions

Emotions are part of how Allah created the human being. Feeling grief, anger or fear is not in itself a sign of weak faith. The test is what a person does with what he feels.

The second volume works through the difficult emotions Muslims face most, including anger, grief, anxiety, loneliness and frustration. For each it sets out what the Qur'an and Sunnah say, what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught about handling it, and practical steps for bringing it under control.

Who it is for: any Muslim who struggles with anger, anxiety or grief and wants guidance grounded in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Book 3: Recognising and Changing Destructive Behaviours

Recognising and Changing Destructive Behaviours

Some habits a person knows are harming him, and still he cannot stop. The final volume helps the reader identify those patterns and where they come from.

The book places real change on the foundation of tawbah and a sincere intention to change for the sake of Allah, before any practical method. It then gives step-by-step guidance on recognising triggers, breaking the cycle, building good habits in place of bad ones, and keeping the change going.

Who it is for: Muslims trying to leave a harmful habit, and those helping someone else through one. It stands on its own but is strongest after the first two volumes.

How to Read the Series

• In order: Book 1 for the framework, Book 2 for emotions, Book 3 for behaviour. Each builds on the one before.
• If one struggle is pressing: go straight to Managing Your Emotions for anger, anxiety or grief, or Recognising and Changing Destructive Behaviours for a habit you want to break.

These books are guidance, not a replacement for care. Anyone facing serious depression or anxiety should also seek help from a qualified professional. The series itself is written with that in view.

For the heart itself, Dr. Ali Albarghouthi's Heart Therapy: Forty Hadiths in Tazkiyah gathers the narrations on the diseases of the heart and their cures. Browse more in our books on purifying the soul.

Related Reading

For the classical books on purifying the soul, see our guide to the best books on tazkiyah, and for where real change begins, Self-Help or Tazkiyah? For guidance in times of hardship, see our guide to books by Ibn Abi Dunya.

We aim to carry only titles upon the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salaf as-Salih, and we ask Allah to keep us upon that. You can read about each author on their page or browse all of them on our authors page. Every order ships from our shop here in Portland, and if you are unsure which book to begin with, reach out on live chat. We are always glad to help you choose.

Baarakallahu feekum — The Islamic Book Cafe | Portland, Oregon.