Law of Crying During Prayers in Islam

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

Crying because someone’s fear of Allah while reading Al-Qur’an or during the prayer is a highly recommended act, and Allah praises His believers as the benefits of crying.

Undoubtedly, your feeling of regret for losing this blessing is a very good sign. You should notice that Muslims can get used to crying out of fear of Allah by doing the following things:

1. Make yourself fear of Allah SWT

This crying is the fruit of useful knowledge, as al-Qurtubi says in his commentary on the following verse:

“And they fell on their faces to tears” (QS. Al-Isra : 109)

This is an eloquent description of them and a compliment to them. It is the duty of everyone who acquires this knowledge to reach this level, so that when he hears Al-Quran he is filled with fear and humility.
In Musnad al-Daarimi it is narrated from Abu Muhammad that al-Taymi said:

“Whoever is given knowledge and does not weep, he is worthy to have no knowledge, for Allah has portrayed those who have knowledge, then he recites this verse.”

2. Recite Al-Qur’an and contemplate its meaning

Allah SWT said:

“Say, ‘Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it – when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration. And they say, ‘Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled’. And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Qur’an increases them in humble submission.” (QS. Al-Isra : 107 – 109)

It is narrated that Ibn Mas’ood said:

The Prophet said to me: “Read the Quran for me.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, should I recite it to you when it is revealed to you? “

He said:

“I love to hear it from other people. “So I recite Soorat al-Nisa ‘to him, and when I reach this verse -” How (Will it be) then, when We bring from every nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) againts these (people) as a witness?” (QS. An-Nisa : 41) he said:” That is enough for now. “I turned to him and saw his eyes flow with tears. Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muhlim.

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3. Know the amount of reward for crying, especially when someone is alone

Narrated Abu Hurayrah said:

Rasulullah said: “A person who cries for fear of Allah will not go to hell until milk returns to the udder, and the dust produced (during battle) for Allah and the smoke of Hell will never co-exist.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasaa’i)

“Until milk returns to the goats” is a metaphor since it is impossible, as in the verse where Allah says (interpretation of meaning):

“Nor will they enter Paradise until a camel enters into the eye of a needle. And thus do We recompense the criminals” (QS. Al-A’raf : 40).

Crying when alone is excluded since being alone is a time when a heart tends to become harder and there is a stronger motive for committing sin, and it is furthest removed from the possibility of showing off.

So if one tries to do this, and makes himself feel the greatness and strength of Allah, and his eyes flow with tears, then he deserves to be under the auspices of the Most Merciful Throne on Days when there will be no shade but His shade as the law of men makes women cry in Islam. Read also : how to control the mind in Islam

4. Thinking about your situation and your courage in committing sin, and afraid to meet Allah in such conditions

One of the pious people used to cry day and night, and something was told to him about it. He said:

“I am afraid that Allah will see me commit a sin and will say: ‘Get away from me because I am angry with you.’ Therefore Sufyan used to cry and said: ‘I am afraid that my faith will be taken away at death.'”

Isma’il ibn Zakariya describes Habeeb ibn Muhammad, who is his neighbor.

He said:

“Every night I heard him cry and every morning I heard him cry, so I went to his wife and asked: ‘What’s wrong with him? He cries at night and he cries in the morning! ‘He said to me:’ By Allah, when the evening comes, he is afraid that he will not live until morning and when morning comes he is afraid that he will not live until night.'”

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The salaf (a pious predecessor) used to cry and grieve like a way of forgetting someone. When Yazid al-Raqaashi was criticized for crying a lot and was told to him,

“If Fire is specially made for you, you will not cry over this,” he said: “Whether Fire has been created for anyone other than me and my friend and brother among jinn and humans?”

5. Make yourself feel sorry and feel that you have failed in your duty to Allah SWT

Tears of the repentant at night satisfy the thirst and heal illness, as Shaykh Mufassiren (interpreter), Abu Ja’far al-Tabari, said in his commentary on the verse (interpretation of meaning):

“Then at this statement do you wonder? And you laugh and do not weep.” (QS. An-Najm : 59 – 60)

Do not cry over the warnings contained therein for disobedient people when you are the ones who commit sins like the law of tears when fasting, since if we cry while fasting there are some different prespective on it.

Which, if crying by things distanced themselves from Allah, of course it could reduce the reward of fasting. Or at least, can make our time wasted, meanwhile we could use our time to worship Allah. For example, crying because of a broken heart or not accept with the qada and qadar that already given by Allah SWT. Of course this short of reason of crying will distance ourselves from Allah and it is prohibited.