Today’s topic concerns:

“The tears of the ones fearful [of Allah] are the most precious tears, and the weeping of Al-Mukhbitin (those who obey Allah with humility and are humble from among the true believers of Islamic Monotheism) is the most beautiful [form] of weeping.”

Today we will discuss weeping from the Khashyah of Allah, i.e., someone who cries from fear and humility toward Allah, hoping to meet Him, and a strong desire for Jannah.

Crying from fear and humility toward Allah is something very praiseworthy, and has many merits. The sincere weeping that is a result from fear and humility toward Allah, fear from His punishment, fear from the various accumulated sins we commit.

It is also from the yearning we feel to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and desiring what He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) has [in store for us from] eternal bliss and gardens of pleasure.

However the condition for this, is that one must be truthful in his heart, sincere to Allah. It’s nothing like the love for fame, or showing off. Crying from fear and humility toward Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) is from the greatest matters that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) loves.

The most precious and loved tears to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) are, as it was reported that the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said (there are many Ahadith regarding this matter):

لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ قَطْرَتَيْنِ وَأَثَرَيْنِ قَطْرَةٌ مِنْ دُمُوعٍ فِي خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَقَطْرَةُ دَمٍ تُهَرَاقُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏

“Nothing is dearer to Allah than two drops and two marks, a drop of tears from fear of Allah and a drop of blood shed in Allah’s path (i.e., fighting in the path of Allah, as it results in wounds and death).”
[Tirmidhi:1669]

Verily weeping from the fear of Allah is amongst the greatest and most eminent blessings. And these tears are usually a result of having a soft heart. The heart of a believer is soft, due to their Emaan. If Emaan increases in one’s heart then their heart is soft, they fear Allah more and are humble to Him (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed.
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

‏ اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ ‎﴿٢٣﴾‏

Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Qur'an), its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide.
[Surat Az-Zumar: 23]

It is a matter of guidance from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), as a result of increased obedience to Him and righteous actions. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guides a believer to this fear and humility toward Him (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

وعن عبد الله بن الشخير، رضي الله عنه ، قال‏:‏ "أتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وهو يصلي ولجوفه أزيز كأزير المرجل من البكاء‏".‏

'Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhir (رضي الله عنه) reported: “I came to Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) when he was performing prayers. He was sobbing and his chest sounded like a boiling kettle.”
[Riyad as-Salihin:450]

This was because of the intense weeping. Al-Marjal is a kettle, when it reaches a high temperature it boils and makes a sound. This was how the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was, it sounded as such due to his (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) intensive weeping.

Weeping from fear & humility toward Allah is among the most worthy, excellent actions - it has a great reward with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). And no one is able to acquire this (crying) except he who is guided by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), like we mentioned from the Ayah previously:

ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ

That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases…

A person who draws nearer [to Allah] with obedience [to Him], is granted this level [of humility and fear of Allah]. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases. If a person wishes to increase in obedience to Allah & [righteous] actions, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) will reward him for that and grant him this blessing.

No one is able to attain this except he who is guided by Allah among the people of good, who are near to Allah by virtue of [committing] every righteous action, like the one whose tongue is persevering in the remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). They embark towards every good action, there is no good action except that they have a part in it.

The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said in a Hadith, regarding those who weep from fear & humility towards Allah and their reward [for this act],

لاَ يَلِجُ النَّارَ رَجُلٌ بَكَى مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَعُودَ اللَّبَنُ فِي الضَّرْعِ

"One who weeps out of fear of Allah, will not enter the Hell till milk returns back in the udder...”
[Tirmidhi:2311]

And does the milk ever return to the udder? No, meaning Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) promised us that whoever has this fear and humility towards Allah, and it results in tears, then Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) will reward them.

There was an eminent companion, named Ka’b Al-Ahbār (رضي الله عنه), he was a Rabbi from the Jews who accepted Islam (رضي الله عنه). He said, “For me to cry from the fear of Allah, such that my tears flow down my cheeks, is more loved to me than giving charity in my weight in gold.”

He knows [the merits of weeping out of fear & humility toward Allah], because he was a Rabbi who accepted Islam, and was amongst the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم). Another Sahabi would weep, and wipe his face/cheeks with histears. So it was said to him: “Why do you wipe your face with your tears?” When we cry we wipe our tears away (not wipe our face with it), however this Sahabi would wipe his face with his tears to spread it on his face. He said, “It was said to me that the tears of fear & humility toward Allah do not seize any part of the body, except that it is made forbidden for Hellfire.”

So by virtue of this, this Sahabi (رضي الله عنه) would wipe his body with his tears. Tears of the humble & fearful of Allah are a result of a soft heart that resonates with the remembrance of Allah, righteous actions, and an enormous love for the mercy of Allah, this is a heart that is humble and fearful of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

And that which increases fear and humility towards Allah is reading Qur’an, however it must be done with contemplation and pondering [over its meaning]. Also, sitting with righteous people, for example a righteous friend. And always having one’s tongue remember Allah - like how the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) would remember Allah in every situation.

A [soft] heart is always remembering the punishment of the grave, the punishment of Allah, meeting Allah, the hereafter, encountering Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) on the Day of Judgement with all our deeds arranged in front of us. The soft heart is always remembering death, remembering that a person will be laying in his grave alone.

You have left me alone against this grueling torment!

A person will be buried alone, only taking with him his deeds. He will be held accountable [for the actions he committed in this life], alone! And two angels will descend upon him and ask him (questions that determine his state in the afterlife).

[To soften your heart, spend time with] A righteous, God-fearing friend who guides you to good always, [such as] reading Qur’an with contemplationand pondering over its meaning most importantly, always holding oneself accountable, always repenting and seeking forgiveness.

The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) would seek forgiveness from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) one hundred times daily, and this is the Messenger! And the best form of Istighfar, is that which destroys sins is:

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ القَيّوُمُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيهِ

Astaghfirullāha alladhi lā ilāha illā huwa ‘al-ḥayyal-Qayyūma wa atūbu ilayh

I seek the forgiveness of Allah, Whom there is none worthy of worship except Him, the Living, the Eternal, and I repent to Him.

Memorize this, and remember Allah always and forever, your tongue must always be moist with the remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). Narrated ‘Aisha (رضي الله عنها):

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ أَحْيَانِهِ ‏.‏

Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to mention Allah’s Name (praise Him) at all times.
[Muslim:373]

Holding oneself accountable, increasing in the supererogatory worship, anything [good] you do, Allah increases your rank in Jannah, for Jannah is of a hundred levels. Choose your level according to the deeds you perform.

The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

«مَا مِنْ أحد يدْخل الْجنَّة إِلَّا برحمة الله تَعَالَى»

“No one enters paradise but by the mercy of God most high.”
[Mishkat al-Masabih 1305]

Meaning we do not enter paradise [solely] because of our actions, rather it is the mercy of Allah.

Choose your level in Paradise according to the deeds you perform, like increasing in the supererogatory worship, Istighfar, contemplating the enormous dread of the Day of Judgement, the crowds of people that will gather, and how everyone will be exposed and stand in front of Allah…

Another thing that softens the heart is wiping over the head of an orphan, kissing one’s children, playing with them, and being good to the wife. We are good to others yet we neglect the children and wives, and treat them harshly.

Among the most important things to soften the heart is that one is good with his family (good companionship, good treatment), he plays with his children kindly, kisses them, is affectionate with them, likewise the spouse. For the only befitting way to treat one’s spouse is with good.

‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan, the eminent companion (رضي الله عنه), the one who bought his [place in] Jannah, [It is reported] that the Messenger said about him (due to his generosity for the sake of Allah):

"‏ مَا ضَرَّ عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ ‏"

'Whatever 'Uthman does after today will not harm him.’ (رضي الله عنه)
[Tirmidhi:3701]

كَانَ عُثْمَانُ إِذَا وَقَفَ عَلَى قَبْرٍ بَكَى حَتَّى يَبُلَّ لِحْيَتَهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ تُذْكَرُ الْجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ فَلاَ تَبْكِي وَتَبْكِي مِنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ الْقَبْرَ أَوَّلُ مَنَازِلِ الآخِرَةِ فَإِنْ نَجَا مِنْهُ فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَيْسَرُ مِنْهُ..."

When 'Uthman would stop at a grave he would cry until his beard was soaked (in tears). Someone said to him, “We mention paradise and hell, but you do not weep, yet you are weeping at the grave?" He replied that Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said, “The grave is the first stage of the next world; if one escapes from it (meaning if one’s abode is paradise) what follows is easier than it…”
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi:2308]

Meaning the hard part is over. So this Sahabi (رضي الله عنه) would frequently, intensely weep, bitter tears over the grave. We prepare ourselves for houses, vacations, and cars - but we should never forget the grave. Every one of us will descend into the grave one day.

[It is reported that] The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

مَا رَأَيْت منْظرًا قطّ إِلَّا الْقَبْر أَفْظَعُ مِنْهُ

“I have never seen a sight as horrible as the grave."
[Mishkat al-Masabih:132]

So we should prepare for the grave, always and forever, prepare with the remembrance of Allah.

Your tears have been exhausted from your eyes, so take from the eyes of another whose tears are abundantly flowing. Who will loan you their eyes so you may cry [tears] from them? Have you seen an eye borrowed for its tears before?

O Allah make clear to us the truth, and grant us the ability in following it, and show us the falsehood for what it is, and grant us the ability to avoid it. O Allah make us guided guiders, and not misguided, nor of those who misguide others, and to close our Dua, All the Praises and Thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds