A Few Miscellaneous Stories On The Fear of Allah

It is very difficult to cover all that is said in the Qur'an and the Hadith about the importance of fearing Allah. It may, however, be understood that fear of Allah is an essential step towards all spiritual advancement.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Fear of Allah is the root of all wisdom."

Abdullah ibn Umar RA used to weep so much with the fear of Allah that he lost his eyesight. He said to somebody watching him:

"You wonder at my weeping. Even the sun weeps out of the fear of Allah."

On another occasion, Abdullah ibn Umar RA is reported to have said:

"Even the moon weeps with His fear."

The Prophet Muhammad SAW once passed by one of the Sahabah who was reciting the Qur'an.

When he came to the verse:

"And when the heaven splitteth asunder and becometh rosy like red hide." ( Surah 5: Ayat 37)

- the hair of his body stood on end, and he was nearly choked, with excessive weeping. He would cry and say:

"Alas, what will happen to me on the day when even the Heaven splitteth asunder. Woe is me!"

The Prophet SAW said to him:

"Your crying has made even the angels weep."


Once an Ansari sat and wept after Tahajjud, saying:

"I cry to Allah for protection from the Fire of Hell."

The Prophet SAW said to him:

"You have made the angels weep today."


Abdullah bin Rawahah RA was once weeping. His wife also began to weep on seeing him in this condition. He enquired of her:

"Why are you weeping?"

She replied:

"Whatever makes you weep makes me weep too."

He said:

"The idea that I have to cross the bridge of Sirat across Hell makes me weep. I don't know whether I shall be able to cross over or fall into Hell."


Zurarah bin Aufa RA was leading the Solat in a Musjid. When he recited the verse:

"For when the Trumpet shall sound; Surely that day will be a day of anguish!" (Surah 74: Ayat 8 & 9)

- he fell down and expired. People carried his body to his house.


Khulaid RA was saying his Salaat. During his Qirat (recitation), when he reached the verse:

"Every soul will taste of death." (Surah 3: Ayat 185)

- he began to repeat it again and again. He heard a voice from a corner of the room saying:

"How often are you going to repeat this verse? Your recitation has already caused the death of four Jinns."


There are many stories of this type. Fudhail RA, a famous Sheikh, says:

"Fear of Allah leads to everything that is good."


Shibli RA, another Sheikh of high position, says:

"Whenever I have felt Allah's fear in me, I have found a fresh door of knowledge and wisdom opened for me."


In a Hadith Qudsi (Divine Hadith), the Prophet Muhammad SAW is reported to have said that:

"Allah says: 'I do not impose two fears on my slave. If he does not fear me in this world, I shall give him fear in the next, and if he fears me in this world I shall save him from all fears in the Hereafter'."


The Prophet Muhammad SAW says:

"All things fear a person who fears Allah, while everything is a source of fear to him who fears somebody other than Allah."


Yahya bin Ma'az RA says:

"If a man fears Hell as much as he is afraid of poverty then he may enter into Paradise."


Abu Sulaiman Daarani RA says:

"There is nothing but ruin for a heart that is devoid of fear of Allah."


The Prophet SAW says:

"The face that gets wet with the smallest drop of tear from the fear of Allah is safe from entrance into the fire of Hell."


The Prophet SAW also said:

"When a Muslim shivers with the fear of Allah, his sins fall away from him like the falling leaves of a tree."


The dear Prophet SAW has said:

"A person weeping with fear of Allah cannot go to Hell until milk goes back into the teats (which is an impossibility)."


Hadhrat Uqbah bin Amir RA once inquired of the Prophet Muhammad SAW:

"What is the way to salvation?"

The Prophet SAW replied:

"Hold your tongue, stay indoors and cry over your sins."


Ummul Mu'mineen, A'ishah RA once inquired of the Prophet Muhammad SAW:

"Is there anybody among your followers who will go to Paradise without reckoning?"

The Prophet SAW replied:

"Yes - the person who often cries over his sins."


There is another Hadith, in which our dear Master, Muhammad SAW has said:

"No drop is more dear to Allah than two drops: a drop of tear shed in the fear of Allah; and a drop of blood shed in the path of Allah."


It is said in a Hadith that seven persons would be under the shade of the Arsh on the Day of Judgement. One of them would be the person who remembered Allah when all alone by himself, and tears flowed from his eyes with awe of Allah and in repentance for his sins.

Saiyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq RA says:

"One who can weep should do so, and one who cannot should make the appearance of a weeping person."


It is reported of Muhammad bin Munkadir RA that, when he wept, he smeared his tears over his face and beard saying:

"I have heard that the Fire of Hell does not touch the place touched by these tears."


Thabit Banani RA was suffering from a disease of the eyes. His doctor said to him:

"Your eyes would be all right, provided you do not weep in future."

Thabit RA replied:

"What is the good of an eye if it cannot shed tears."


Yazid bin Maisarah RA says:

"There can be seven reasons for weeping i.e. - extreme joy, insanity, extreme pain, horror, artifice, intoxication and Fear of Allah. A single tear shed in the Fear of Allah is sufficient to quench oceans of Fire of Hell."


Ka'ab Ahbar RA says:

"By Him who holds my life in His (hands), I love to weep for fear of Allah, with tears flowing down my cheeks, rather than spend a mountain of gold in charity."


There are numerous other sayings of the Sahabah RA and the pious people of the past - all indicating that weeping because of the Fear of Allah, and over one's sins, is very effective and beneficial in attaining spiritual elevation.

Nevertheless, we should never loose hope in Allah. Allah's Mercy is All-Embracing. Allah SWT is the Most Merciful out of all those capable of showing mercy.


Saiyidina Umar Al-Khattab RA says:

"If it be announced on the Day of Judgement that all except one individual shall go to Hell - my expectation of the Mercy of Allah would make me hope that I may be that chosen one. Again, if it be announced on that day that all except one individual shall go to Paradise - then my sins would make me fear that I may be that condemned one."


It is therefore necessary for us to have fear and hope placed together in our hearts. Especially when the time of death is approaching, we should have more hope than fear.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW says:

"None of you should die, except with a strong hope in the Mercy of Allah."

When Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal RA was about to approach his end, he sent for his son and asked him to read to him the Ahadith that induce hope in Allah and His Mercy.

The Humour Of The Companions RA

Qarrah RA said:

That he asked Ibn Sirin RA if the Companions RA of the Prophet SAW played jokes on one another. At this he (Ibn Sirin RA) said:

"They too were humans beings and nothing else." (Al-Haithami)


Auf ibn Malik Ashjai RA said:

That at the time of the Battle of Tabuk he went to see the Prophet SAW. At that time the Prophet (SAW) was sitting in a small round shaped tent of leather. Auf saluted the Prophet (SAW) and he returned the salutation. He (SAW) further asked him to come into the tent. At this Auf said, "Should I come in, the whole of me?" The Prophet (SAW) said, "Yes, come in the whole of you." Then he entered the tent. (Abu Dawud, Al-Bidayah)

(Note: Walid ibn Uthman ibn Abi al Aliyah RA says that Auf RA had said this because of the smallness of the tent.)


Abi Malikah RA said:

That once A'ishah RA uttered some humorous words before the Prophet SAW. At this A'ishah's mother said to the Prophet, "O Messenger of Allah! Some of the pleasantries of this tribe trace their origin in the tribe of Kinanah". At this the Prophet (SAW) said, "This tribe itself depends on our humour". (Al-Bukhari, Chapter of Adab)


Bakr ibn Abdullah RA narrates:

That the Companions RA of the Prophet SAW used to throw melons on one another by way of joke. But they became valiant when faced with the realities of life or its hardships. (Al-Bukhari, Chapter of Adab)


Rabiah ibn Uthman RA said:

That a certain Bedouin came to the Prophet SAW. He seated his she camel outside the Holy Mosque and himself went inside to meet the Holy Prophet (SAW). Some of the Companions of the Prophet (SAW) said to Nu'aiman ibn Amr Al-Ansari RA, "If you slaughter this she camel and satisfy your hunger, the Holy Prophet will pay its penalty". The narrator says that very soon Nu'aiman slaughtered the she camel. When the Bedouin came out of the Mosque and saw all this, he began crying out, "O Muhammad! Some one has slaughtered her". The Holy Prophet (SAW) came out and asked the people who had done that. The people told him that Nu'aiman had done that. Now the Prophet (SAW) went out in search of him. He found Nu'aiman in the house of Dabaah, daughter of Zubair ibn Abdul Mutallib. He had hidden himself in a cell and had put branches and dry barks and leaves of the date tree over his body. Someone cried out that he had not seen him. But this very man pointed to the place where Nu'aiman was hiding. The Prophet (SAW) took him out from there and his face was covered with dust and leaves of the date tree. The Prophet (SAW) asked him who had asked him to do that. He said, "O Messenger of Allah! These very men who had told you about my whereabouts, had asked me to do that". The Holy Prophet (SAW) began removing the leaves and barks from his head and face and remained laughing. The narrator says that later on the Prophet SAW paid the price of the she-camel to that Bedouin. (Al-Istiab: Isabah)

Note: In the above, we observe the elegance and grandeur of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. How patient he is, and how merciful he is. Such elegant personalities are able to transform such critical but amusing situations into peaceful and amusing ones. In this day and age, we are advised by the Ulama to avoid performing practical jokes as it becomes a means of creating discord and conflict. Nevertheless from the above riwayat we see how human the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad SAW were and how beautiful were his (SAW) akhlak, mu'amalat and mu'asharat.


Umm Salamah RA said:

Abu Bakr RA went to the city of Basrah on a trade mission. With him were Nu'aiman RA and Suwaibit ibn Harmalah RA, and both were the two who had fought in the Battle of Badr. Suwaibit was in charge of the provisions of the caravan. Nu'aiman asked him to give him food. At this Suwaibit said, "Wait a little and let Abu Bakr come". Nu'aiman was a witty and humorous fellow. He went to a group of men who had brought beasts of burden. He said to them, "Will any of you purchase a slave?" They replied in the affirmative. Nu'aiman said, "That Arab slave is a plausible fellow and it is just possible that he might say that he is not a slave. If you leave him because of his words then blame me not, and break not the deal". Those traders agreed to this. These men purchased him for ten she-camels. Nu'aiman brought the she-camels and pointing towards Suwaibit, he told them that that was the slave. The traders said, "We already know that you will say this (i.e. that he isn't a slave)". Now the traders tied Suwaibit by his neck and wanted to take him to their place. In the meantime Abu Bakr came there, and he was informed about all of this. Abu Bakr and his companions when to those merchants and returned them to their she-camels. Thus they bought back Suwaibit. Later on when the Prophet (SAW) was informed about this incident, he laughed. The Prophet (SAW) and his Companions continued laughing over this incident for the whole year. (Ahmad, Abu Dawud , Al-Tayalsi, Al-Isabah)

Modesty - The Sign of Imaan

Abu Saeed Al-Khudri RA narrates:

"The Prophet of Allah (SAW) was more bashful than a virgin concealed in her veil. Whenever he would dislike something it would be perceived from his face." (Ibn Majah)


Anas bin Malik RA says that the Holy Prophet SAW said:

"Verily, there is a (special) morality of every religion. And the (special) morality of Islam is modesty." (Ibn Majah)


Abdullah ibn Mas'ud RA reports that the Holy Prophet SAW said:

"Verily, amongst the words people have obtained from the sayings of the past prophets is that when you are immodest (unashamed) then (you will) do whatever you desire." (Ibn Majah)


Abu Hurairah RA narrates that the Holy Prophet SAW said:

"Modesty is part of Imaan, and Imaan is in Paradise; and obscenity is part of hard-heartedness, and hard-heartedness is in Hell." (Ahmad & Tirmidhi)


Abdullah ibn Umar RA says that Allah's Messenger (SAW) came upon a man of the Ansar who was advising his brother regarding modesty (not to over do it) .

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said:

"Leave him alone, for modesty is part of Imaan." (Bukhari & Muslim)


6. It is narrated that the Holy Prophet SAW said:

"Be modest to Allah as you should be."

They (the Sahabah RA) said:

"O' Prophet of Allah , by the grace of Allah we are modest to Him as we should be."

The Prophet (SAW) said:

"It is not that. Being modest to Allah as one should be - is that one should guard his head and what it contains, his belly and what it consists of, and that he should continuously remember death and the decaying (of the bones), and whosoever desires the Hereafter should abandon the adornment of the world and should prefer the Hereafter over the world. Whoever does this, he is modest to Allah as he should be." (Tirmidhi)

The Prophet SAW's Weeping The Whole Night

The Prophet Muhammad SAW once kept weeping the whole night through, repeating again and again the following verse:

"If Thou punish them, they art Thy slaves; and if Thou forgive them, Thou only art The Mighty, The Wise." (Surah 5: Ayat 118)

This quality of weeping in Solat is practiced by those close to Allah SWT.

It is narrated about the grand Mujtahid of fiqh - Imam Abu Hanifah RA that he also once wept the whole night, reciting the following verse of the Qur'an in Tahajjud:

"But avaunt ye, 0, ye guilty, this day." (Surah 36: Ayat 58)

This verse means that on the Day of Judgement, the guilty will be asked to separate themselves from the good, and will not be allowed to mix with them, just as they were doing in the worldly life.

It is only common sense that any slave of Allah who have their hearts inculcated with the fear of Allah would weep in anxiety about this, as who knows as to which class they belong to on the Day of Judgement?

The Actions Of The Prophet Muhammad SAW At The Time Of Solar Eclipse

The Sun once was in eclipse during the Prophet SAW's time.

The Sahabah RA left their work. Even the young boys practicing archery, hastened towards the masjid to know what the Prophet SAW would do at that time.

The Prophet SAW started a Solat of two raka'ats, which was so long that some people fainted and fell down.

The Prophet SAW wept in his Solat and said:

"O, My Lord! Thou has said that Thou ouldst not punish them as long as I am with them and so long as they seek Thy forgiveness."

This refers to a verse in the Qur'an wherein Allah says:

"But Allah would not punish them while Thou art with them, nor will He punish them while they seek forgiveness." (Surah 8: Ayat 33)

He (SAW) then addressed the people saying:

"You should hasten for Solat whenever you happen to find the Sun or the Moon in eclipse. If you happen to know the signs of the Last Day as I do, then surely you would weep more and laugh less. In all such happenings, repair to Solat; pray to Allah and distribute alms to the poor."

The Prophet SAW's Apprehension At The Time Of A Storm

Aishah RA relates that whenever a strong wind bringing dense clouds started blowing, the Prophet Muhammad SAW's face turned pale with the fear of Allah. He (became restive and would go in and out with perturbation, and would recite the following prayer:

"O, my Allah! I ask of Thee the good out of this wind, the good out of that which is in this wind, and the good out of that which is the outcome of this wind. I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of this wind, from the evil out of that which is in this wind, and from the evil out of that which is the outcome of this wind."

Aishah RA says:

"And further when it began to rain, signs of delight appeared on his face.

I said to him once:

'O, Prophet of Allah when clouds appear everybody is happy as they foretell rain, but why is it that I see you so much perturbed at that time?'

He replied:

'O, Aishah! How can I feel secure that this wind does not portend Allah's wrath? The people of A'ad were punished with the wind. They were happy when they beheld the gathering dense clouds, believing that they brought rain, but actually those clouds brought no rain but utter destruction to A'ad.' "

The Prophet (SAW) was, obviously, referring to the following verses of the Qur'an:

"Then, when they (A'ad) beheld a dense cloud coming toward their valleys, they said: 'Here is a cloud bringing us rain.' Nay, but it is that very calamity which you did seek to hasten, a wind wherein is grievous penalty, destroying all things by commandment of its Lord. And morning found them so that naught could be seen, save their dwellings. Thus we treat the guilty folk." (Surah 6: Ayat 24 & 25)

Look at the fear of Allah in the heart of a person who is the best of all creation (SAW).

In spite of another clear verse in the Qur'an that affirms that Allah would not punish the people so long as the Prophet Muhammad SAW was with them (Al-Qur'an - Surah 8: Verse 33), the Prophet SAW has so much fear of Allah in him that a strong wind immediately reminds him of the punishment awarded to the people in the past.

Now let us peep into our own hearts for a moment. Although we are fully saturated with sins, yet none of the unusual phenomena e.g. earthquake, lightning, flood etc. arouse the least fear of Allah in our hearts and, instead of resorting to Istighfar or Solat at such times, we only indulge in absurd investigations.

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Aishah RA reports:

"Rasulullah SAW kissed the forehead of Uthman bin Maz'un after his death. At that time tears were flowing from his eyes."


COMMENTARY

Uthman bin Maz'un RA was a foster brother of Rasulullah SAW. He was the thirteenth person to accept Islam in its early stages. He first migrated to Abyssinia then to Madinah. It is known that he was very pious and devoted. At the time when the command of Allah to prohibit alcohol was revealed, and it was still lawful to drink intoxicants, Uthman bin Maz'un RA had already abstained from imbibing it. He was the first among the Muhajireen to pass away; and he died in the month of Sha'baan in the second year Hijri and was buried in Jannatul Baqi - the graveyard of the Sahabah RA beside Masjid Nabawi.
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Abdullah ibn Abbas RA reports that one of the daughters of Rasulullah SAW was on her death bed. Rasulullah SAW picked her up and put her before him. She passed away in his presence.

Ummi Ayman RA began wailing aloud. Rasulullah SAW said:

"Are you crying before the Messenger of Allah?" (because tears were also flowing from the eyes of Rasulullah SAW).

She said:

"Do I not see you cry?"

Rasulullah SAW replied:

"This crying is not prohibited. It is a mercy of Allah". (He softens the hearts of His servants, and creates love and mercy in them).

Rasulullah SAW then said:

"A Muslim is at peace at all times. Even when his soul is being taken out, he is busy uttering the hamd (praises) of Allah."


COMMENTARY

This episode describes the soft-heartedness of Rasulullah SAW, and that stone-heartedness is contrary to kindness. To have natural love for children is not against the dignity and sanctity of Prophethood. To be soft hearted is praiseworthy.

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Abdullah bin Umar RA reports:

"In the time of Rasulullah SAW there once occurred a solar eclipse.

(According to the majority of the Ulama this incident took place in the tenth year after Hijrah).

Rasulullah SAW went into the masjid, commenced Solah, and stood in qiyam for so long that it was felt that he did not intend to perform the ruku'.

(In another narration it is stated that he recited Surah Al-Baqarah.)

He then performed such a long ruku' as if he did not want to come up from the Ruku'. Then in the same manner after standing up from the ruku' he stood up for such a long time as if he did not want to perform sajdah, here too he kept his mubarak head on the ground for such a long time as if he was not going to lift his mubarak head . In this manner he did the same after lifting the head and sitting in jalsa, and after the jalsa in the second sajdah. In short, in every rukun of the Solat this was done, that every rukun was so long, as if this rukun was going to be performed till the end, and there is nothing after it.

(In the same manner he performed the second raka'at.

(In the last sajdah of the second raka'at) due to intense fear - he began taking heavy breaths and crying, and began pleading to Almighty Allah:

"O Allah, it is only You that have promised that when these people make istighfaar there will be no punishment."

This saying of Rasulullah SAW refers to the Ayat that is at the end of the ninth juz:

''But Allah would not punish them while thou was with them, nor will He punish them while they seek forgiveness." (Surah Al-Anfaal: Ayat 33)

When Rasulullah SAW completed the Solah, the sun had cleared already. Rasulullah SAW delivered a sermon after this. After uttering the hamd and thanaa, he talked on this subject, that the sun and moon does not eclipse because of the death or birth of anyone, but both are from among the signs of Allah Ta'ala. (That gives His creation a warning so that they may fear Allah). When the eclipses occurs then immediately turn towards Allah (begin istighfaar and perform Solah)."


COMMENTARY

In the above narration, Rasulullah SAW teaches the Ummah on how to react and behave during the time of eclipse. This is applicable both during the time of a solar eclipse, as well as a lunar eclipse. The combination of fear and grandeur of Allah SWT should fill the hearts of all Muslims, and all should make themselves busy with the solat of such occassions. This is what Muslims should be busy with during such times.

It is so unfortunate that nowadays, when such things occur, even Muslims - due to their lack of faith and amal, instead make it an event to study science, to take out their binoculars and telescopes and make themselves more busy with other things which are not even part of their daily routine. Though we do not deny the importance of science and all, missing the solat of the eclipse intentionally / not increasing their spiritual devotions during such incidents - and instead making one busy with science and technology is a disgrace for any Muslim. Instead of using that one occasion to nurture the fear of Allah, people use that time for an experience of which they describe as the amazing features of science !

The reason for delivering this sermon was that in the days of Jahiliyah it was a general understanding that the eclipse of the sun and moon were due to the death or birth of a great personality. Coincidently it so happened that when the son of Rasulullah SAW - Ibrahim RA passed away, an eclipse took place. Therefore this nurtured the view held during the days of Jahiliyah. People began saying that the eclipse was the result of the death of Ibrahim RA.

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Abdullah bin Mas'ud RA says:

''Rasulullah SAW once asked me to recite the Qur'an to him."

(The Prophet Muhammad SAW might have said this because one might be able to concentrate more when one is listens, or he may have said this for another reason, which may include many reasons. For example, the hearing of the recital of the Qur'an is regarded as a Sunnah, as a result of this deed of Rasulullah SAW.)

I said:

''O Messenger of Allah, should I recite it to you when it has been revealed to you?"

(Abdullah ibn Mas'ud RA may have thought this recital was for tabligh as a reminder.)

Rasulullah SAW said:

"I love to hear it from another person.''

"Thereupon I began reciting Surah An-Nisaa (which begins from the last quarter of the fourth juz)."

"When I reached this ayat:

'But how (will it be with them) when We bring of every people a witness, and We bring thee (O Muhammed) a witness against these?'' (Surah An-Nisaa: Ayat 41)

...I saw tears flowing from both eyes of Rasulullah SAW."


COMMENTARY

This crying of Rasulullah SAW was due to the listening of the words of Allah, and this befits the dignity of the Qur'an. Imam Nawawi RA writes that to cry whilst reciting the Qur'an is the quality of the 'Arifeen and a sign of the Saliheen. Allah Ta'ala has praised these people in the Qur'an at many places.

Allah Ta'ala says:

"When the revelations of the Beneficent were recited unto them, they fell down (into sajdah), adoring and weeping." (Surah Maryam: Ayat 58)

And further in the Qur'an, Allah SWT says:

"Lo! Those who were given knowledge before it, when it is read unto them, fall down prostrate on their faces, adoring." (Surah Al-Israa / Bani Israail): Ayat 107)

By this, it is clear that who can confirm more to these verses than Rasulullah SAW. It is not imaginable that the crying of Rasulullah SAW was due to the greatness and Jalal of the Qur'an. In this case, it is possible that Rasulullah SAW must have been crying from before and Abdullah bin Mas'ud RA must have observed it only after Rasulullah SAW had been crying for some time.

It may also be possible that he began crying specially after the reciting of the verse.

The translation of this verse is:

"But how (will it be with them) when We bring of every people a witness, and We bring thee (0 Muhammad) a witness against these?" (Surah An-Nisaa: Ayat 41)

Rasulullah SAW will be called to give evidence on these people. This is the scene of Qiyamat. On that day every prophet will be called upon to give evidence as a witness. The events of which are described in detail in the Ahadith of the Day of Mahshar. In this manner it is possible that this crying of Rasulullah SAW will be due to the difficult times on the Day of Qiyamat and Mahshar. Every person will be engrossed and worried of one's self only. It is possible that in this Ayat - Rasulullah SAW is being commanded to appear as a witness. And he (SAW) fears the intense burden of being called up as a witness.

It is stated in a hadith that at the time when this Ayat was revealed, Rasulullah SAW said:

"O Allah, how can I be a witness of those who were not in my presence?"

Some of the Ulama have written that at the mentioning of this Ayat, the scene of Qiyamat came before him, and the fikr (worry and concern) about the Ummah was always with Rasulullah SAW. Thus - Rasulullah SAW may have cried because of the sins of the Ummah. For this, every event is such, that it can be the cause of crying. All this and besides this, there could be other reasons too for the crying of Rasulullah SAW.
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Abdullah bin Shikh-kheer RA says:

''I attended the noble assembly of Rasulullah SAW. He was performing Solat. Because of his crying, such sound emitted from his chest, like that of a boiling pot."


COMMENTARY

This was due to the total humbleness of Rasulullah SAW. Some Ulama have written that this state of Rasulullah SAW occurred when both the jalaali (glory / splendour) attributes and jamaali (beautiful) attributes of Allah appeared together. None can control the jalaali attributes. Certainly, when the jamaali attributes appeared, at that time a sort of happiness and contentment became apparent.

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A person weeps because of certain reasons. At times one cries because of mercy and kindness; at times because of fear; sometimes because of fondness and love; sometimes due to intense happiness; sometimes due to pain or sorrow; at times due to the oppression of someone. Among these there is the crying of taubah (repentance) which is an outcome of some sin committed; one type of crying is due to nifaaq (hypocrisy), which is done for show, where one cries in Solat so that others may feel that that person is crying due to piety, humbleness etc.; one type of crying is for a request, for instance where one cries for a dead person without taking any remuneration; one type is to cry for a remuneration where for example one is paid to cry at the house of a dead person as is the custom in some areas of certain lands; one type of crying is the crying of acceptance where one sees another crying and after seeing this he also begins to cry, etc.

Rasulullah SAW mainly cried due to the fondness and love for a deceased person, or for fear of, on behalf of the Ummah, or because of the fear or longing for Allah Ta'ala, as will be seen in the narrations under the above title. Only these types of crying are praiseworthy.

The scholars of Islam have written - one type of crying is called a lie, that is the crying of a person after committing a sin but thereafter does not refrain from that sin. The commentators on hadith write the crying, of the Prophet Dawud AS was due to sorrow. The crying of the Prophet Ibrahim AS was due to a desire, and the crying of Rasulullah SAW was because of love.