Having Tender Hearts

 

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they possessed tender hearts and would weep much because of their deficiency in their duties towards Allah the Most Hight, so that He may have mercy upon them. The Messenger of Allah said: “If you knew what I knew, you would have laughed little and wept much”. The companions of Allah’s Mesenger thereupon sobbed while covering their faces.” (Reported by al-Bukhari)

‘Ali (radiallahu ‘anhu) said: “I saw the companions of Allah’s Messenger by today I see no one like them! They would arise in the morning dusty, pale with dishevelled hair, between their two eyes a mark like a goat’s knee because they had spent the night in prostration and long standing. Rolling up and down between their feet and their foreheads. So if the morning came, they would stand steadily as a (swaying) tree does on a windy day. Their eyes would be bathed in tears. By Allaah! It is as if I am now with people who have slept forgetful”.

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiallahu ‘anhu) had two black lines on his face from excessive weeping. Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallahu ‘anhu) had marks like a worn out shoe-lace under his eyes from his excessive weeping.

Ka’b al-ahbaar (rahimahallah) said: “I prefer to weep out of the fear of Allah (even) with only one tear drop falling from my eyes than to spend a mountain of gold with an ungracious heart”.

Ali (radiallahu ‘anhu) would say: “The signs of the righteous are: a pale complexion, bleary eyes, lips shrivelling from their hunger, weeping and wakefulness in prayer at night”.