Crying During Salah Sign of Weakness or Sign of Faith

Question

Is crying during salah a sign of weakness or a sign of faith?

Bottom Line

Not everything is a sign. Tears in salah may come from emotion, reflection, or even health conditions, but what matters is sincerity and humility before Allah.

Short Answer

The type of weeping that is praiseworthy is the one that comes naturally from a soft heart, humble submission in prayer, and when hearing the words of Allah. Crying out of fear of Allah or regret for sins reflects humility and a heart alive with faith. What counts is sincerity, not whether tears fall.

Key Points

• Weeping in salah can be a natural result of khushu‘ (deep humility).
• The Prophet ﷺ himself cried in prayer while reciting the Qur’an.
• Genuine tears born from reflection are praiseworthy.
• Pretending or forcing oneself to cry has no value.

Detailed Answer

Weeping that comes from humble submission in the heart, remembering the greatness of Allah, fearing Him, and longing for Him, is prescribed. If a person makes a sound involuntarily, there is nothing wrong with that. However, forcing oneself to cry artificially has no value. What is required is to reflect sincerely on the words of Allah with understanding; then if the heart softens and tears flow when punishment is mentioned out of fear, when reward is mentioned out of hope, when Allah is remembered out of reverence, or when the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned out of love and longing, this is praiseworthy (al-Liqa’ ash-Shahri 5/8).

{“And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Qur’an increases them in humble submission”} al-Isra’ 17:109

Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The word “weeping” shows that it is permissible to weep during prayer out of fear of Allah or regret for sins, and this does not invalidate or lessen the prayer (Tafsir al-Qurtubi 10/342).

The Prophet ﷺ himself wept in prayer while reciting the Qur’an. Abdullah ibn Shikhkhir reported:

“I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was praying, and a sound was coming from his chest like the boiling of a kettle, due to crying.” Sunan Abu Dawud 904

The righteous predecessors regarded such tears as a sign of life in the heart. True strength is not in hiding emotions before Allah but in allowing the heart to soften in His remembrance.

Possible Causes of Crying in Salah

• Spiritual: Fear of Allah, love for Him, reflection on sins, or longing for His mercy.
• Emotional: Stress, grief, or gratitude expressed in prayer.
• Physical/Medical: Eye sensitivity, fatigue, or health conditions that cause tears.

Benefits of Crying in Salah

• Softens the heart and increases khushu.
• Brings humility and sincerity before Allah.
• Releases stress and emotional burdens.
• Strengthens connection with the Qur’an.

What This Means for You

If tears come in prayer, let them flow as a sign of a softened heart. If they don’t, do not feel deprived; focus instead on reflection, humility, and calm presence. Khushu lives in the heart, not only in the eyes.

And Allah knows best

References

Primary Sources

• Qur’an 17:109: Weeping in humility before Allah.
• Sunan Abu Dawud 904: Prophet ﷺ weeping during salah.

Secondary Sources

• Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim on Surah al-Isra’ (17:109): Commentary on humility and weeping.
• Al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim: Explanation of crying in prayer as a form of khushu‘.
• Al-Qurtubi, Tafsir, vol. 10 p. 342: Ruling on weeping in prayer without invalidating it.

Modern Research & Reports

• Clinical Psychology & Religion Journal (2021): Religious crying linked to stress release, calmness, and deeper emotional processing.
• Journal of Positive Psychology (2017): Spiritual tears lead to meaning, connection, and resilience.
• Harvard Medical School Health Report: Crying activates the parasympathetic system, helping relaxation.
• Frontiers in Psychology (2019): Worship-related emotional expression strengthens spiritual and social bonds, reducing loneliness.