Excellence Of Weeping Out Of Fear From Allah
Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, the Exalted, says:
‘And they fall down on their faces weeping and it increases their humility.’ (17:109)
‘Do you then wonder at this recitation (the Qur’an)’ And you laugh at it and weep not’. (53:59-60)
446. Ibn Mas’ood radhiallaahu`anhu reported: The Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said to me: ‘Recite the Qur’an to me’. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Shall I recite the Qur’an to you, when it has been revealed to you” He Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam replied, ‘I love to hear it recited by others’. So I recited to him a portion from Soorat An-Nisaa’. When I reached the Aayah:
‘How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad as a witness against these people”. (4:41)
He Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Enough for now’. When I looked at him I saw his eyes were shedding tears. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadeeth tells us that besides the recitation of the Noble Qur’an, a Muslim should also listen to it from others so that he can contemplate further on it. It also makes one weep when one listens to the Noble Qur’an.
447. Anas bin Malik radhiallaahu`anhu reported: The Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam delivered a Khutbah to us the like of which I had never heard from him before. In the course of the Khutbah, he said: ‘If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much’. Thereupon those present covered their faces and began to sob. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadeeth has been mentioned in this chapter for the reason that it furnishes positive proof of the fact that the Companions of the Prophet Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam used to weep out of fear of Allah when they heard sermons and preachings. It induces us to follow them.
448. Aboo Hurayrah radhiallaahu`anhu reported: The Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, ‘One who weeps out of fear of Allah, will not enter the Hell till milk returns back in the udder; and the dust raised on account of fighting in the path of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never exist together’. [At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary:
1. A person who has such a fear of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala that he weeps on account of it, cannot be disobedient to Allah. Obviously, his life will generally be spent in the obedience of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala and strict abstinence from sins. It is very true to say that it is as impossible for such a person to go to Hell as the return of milk to the udders.
2. Similarly, Jihad is a highly meritorious act for a Muslim. A Mujahid, who fights for the sake of Allah, is perfectly safe from Hell because the dust that falls on this way on him, cannot mix with the smoke of Hell.
449. Aboo Hurayrah radhiallaahu`anhu reported: The Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Seven people Allah will give them His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but the Shade of His Throne (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection): And they are: a just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques, two men who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom an extremely beautiful woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer and) says: ‘I fear Allah’; a man who gives in charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left-hand does not know what the right has given; and a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes become tearful’.
[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadeeth has been included in this chapter for the reason that it highlights the merits of weeping for fear of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. The fear of Allah keeps one away from the disobedience of Allah, the reward of which in the Hereafter is Jannah – a world which abounds in the Bounties and Pleasure of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala.
450. ‘Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir radhiallaahu`anhu reported: I came to the Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam when he was performing prayers. He was sobbing and his chest sounded like a boiling kettle. [Aboo Dawood and At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary: This Hadeeth tells us how the Prophet Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam used to weep in prayer out of fear of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. To weep in the course of supplication and at the thought of one’s appearance before Allah reflects piety.
451. Anas radhiallaahu`anhu reported: The Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam said to Ubayy bin Ka’b radhiallaahu`anhu, ‘Allah (SWT) has ordered me to recite to you Soorat-Al-Baiyyinah (98): ‘Those who disbelieve …’
Ubayy radhiallaahu`anhu asked, ‘Did He name me” The Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam replied in the affirmative. Whereupon Ubayy radhiallaahu`anhu began to weep. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadeeth highlights the following:
1. The permissibility of crying out of joy when a certain bounty has been bestowed upon one, and out of fear that one fails to show gratefulness to the Bestower of the bounty (i.e., Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala).
2. The superiority of Ubayy bin Ka’b radhiallaahu`anhu and the high position he occupies with regard to his recitation and memorization of the Qur’an.
452. Anas bin Malik radhiallaahu`anhu reported: After the death of the Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam, Aboo Bakr radhiallaahu`anhu said to ‘Umar radhiallaahu`anhu: ‘Let us visit Umm Aiman radhiallaahu`anha as the Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam used to visit her.’ As we came to her, she wept. They (Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar radhiallaahu`anhum said to her, ‘What makes you weep’ Do you not know that what Allah has in store for His Messenger Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam is better than (this worldly life)” She said, ‘I weep not because I am ignorant of the fact that what is in store for Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam (in the Hereafter) is better than this world, but I weep because the Revelation has ceased to come.’ This reply moved both of them to tears and they began to weep along with her. [Muslim].
Commentary: Here, this Hadeeth has been reproduced to furnish justification for weeping on the departure of virtuous people because their presence is a source of many blessings. With their departure from this world, people are deprived of many graces. Pious people are certainly very much grieved on their death.
453. Ibn ‘Umar radhiallaahu`anhu reported: When the illness of the Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam became serious, he was asked about the leading of Salaat and he said, ‘Ask Aboo Bakr to lead Salaat.’ Whereupon, ‘Aishah radhiallaahu`anha said; ‘Aboo Bakr is very tender-hearted. He is bound to be overcome by weeping when he recites the Qur’an.’ Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam repeated, ‘Ask him (Aboo Bakr) to lead Salaat’.
In another narration: ‘Aishah radhiallaahu`anha said: ‘When Aboo Bakr stands in your place, he will not be able to recite the Noble Qur’an to the people on account of weeping.’ [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].
Commentary:
1. This Hadeeth brings into prominence the distinction of Aboo Bakr As-Siddiq radhiallaahu`anhu. It was because of this distinction that the Companions of the Prophet Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam selected him as Khalifah (caliph) after the death of the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam. On this occasion, ‘Umar radhiallaahu`anhu said, ‘Should we not like him for our (worldly life) political leadership when the Prophet Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam had chosen him for our Deen’.
2. The justification for weeping at the time of the recitation of the Noble Qur’an. This was a special virtue of Aboo Bakr As-Siddiq radhiallaahu`anhu which was a mark of his perfect Faith.
454. Ibraheem bin ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf reported: Food was brought to ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf radhiallaahu`anhu when he was observing Saum (fast) and he said: ‘Mus’ab bin ‘Umair radhiallaahu`anhu was martyred and he was better than me, but only one sheet was available to shroud him. It was so small that when his head was covered; his feet remained uncovered and if his feet were covered, his head remained uncovered. Then the bounties of this world have been bestowed upon us generously. I am afraid that the reward of our good deeds have been awarded to us in this world.’ On this, he began to sob and left the food untouched.
[Al-Bukhaari].
Commentary: This Hadeeth tells us about the hospitality of the Companions of the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam and the respect they had for each other.
Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf radhiallaahu`anhu was one of the figures of ‘Al-Ashratul-Mubash-sharun bil Jannah (the ten Companions of the Prophet Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam who were given the glad tidings of entering Jannah during their lifetime). For this reason, he is superior to Mus’ab bin ‘Umair radhiallaahu`anhu, but he acknowledged him superior on the consideration of his martyrdom and poverty through which he had passed. He holds Mus’ab bin ‘Umair radhiallaahu`anhu better on the grounds that he had confronted the infidels in extremely difficult circumstances and sacrificed his life for the sake of Allah.
The second point which this Hadeeth brings out is the fear which Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf radhiallaahu`anhu felt at the abundance of wealth and property, although he used to spend his wealth and riches in the way of Allah and Jihad. Today, the only purpose of our wealth is that we waste it either on foolish customs and ceremonies of marriage or construction of buildings and their decoration. It was this abundance of the wealth of which the Companions of the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam were afraid. The Prophet Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam had himself expressed great anxiety over it.
455. Aboo Umamah Sudaiy bin ‘Ajlan Al-Bahili radhiallaahu`anhu reported: The Prophet Sall Allah `alayhi wa sallam said: ‘Nothing is dearer to Allah than two drops and two marks: A drop of tears shed out of fear of Allah and a drop of bloodshed in Allah’s way. Regarding the two marks, they are: Marks left in the Cause of Allah and a mark left in observing one of the obligatory acts of worship of Allah, the Exalted’. [At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary: This Hadeeth mentions the merits of the following:
1. Weeping out of fear of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala.
2. The blood which flows in the way of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala.
3. The marks of injuries that are left on the bodies of those who take part in Jihad.
4. The marks of wounds received in the performance of obligations.
The Ahadeeth on the subject are many.
456. Al-‘Irbad bin Sariyah radhiallaahu`anhu reported: One day the Messenger of Allah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam delivered us a very eloquent Khutbah on account of which eyes shed tears and hearts became softened. [Aboo Dawood and At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary: Even in the relevant chapter, the author has only given a reference of this Hadeeth and not its full text. This has, however, been stated in chapter 16, bearing the title ‘Observing the Sunnah and the manners of its obedience’.`