Riyad as-Salihin, 447
Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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. <b>[Al- Bukhari and Muslim]</b>.
وعن أنس، رضي الله عنه ، قال: خطب رسول الله، صلى الله عليه وسلم، خطبة ما سمعت مثلها قط، فقال:
لو تعلمون ما أعلم لضحكتم قليلاً ولبكيتم كثيراً
قال : فغطي أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجوههم، ولهم خنين ، ((متفق عليه)) ، وسبق بيان في باب الخوف.
References1 variant
- In-Book Reference
- Introduction, Hadith 447
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br>
1) It shows the Prophet’s guidance in preaching people and urging them to weep out of fear of Allah Almighty.<br>
2) A person’s ignorance and wrongdoing cause him not to weep.<br>
3) It points out the Companions’ merit and how they were directly moved by the Prophet’s preaching. How far from it are those to whom clear verses and Hadiths are read and they are not moved! And they may be humbled and weep upon hearing songs and poems. We should find a way to revive the approach of the Companions in listening.<br>
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<b>Benefit:</b><br>
In another version of the Hadith: “Allah Almighty revealed to him: ‘O Muhammad, why do you cause my slaves to despair?’ So, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) returned and said: ‘Rejoice, and do good deeds properly and moderately.’”<br>
So, the Hadith urges us to combine hope and fear, for fear alone causes despair, and hope alone inspires arrogance and self-conceit.