A Glimpse into the Life of the Holy Prophet (sa) – Crying and Sobbing in Prayer

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) was quite often seen crying during prayers. At the time of the Battle of Badr when he faced an army of one thousand armed warriors with his unarmed three hundred and thirteen companions, he was crying and supplicating to God in his tent. Although God had promised him victory, in view of God’s attribute Ghaniyy (the Independent One), he was prostrating and sobbing. His body was trembling and because of these quivers, his covering kept falling off his shoulders. He was imploring God that if that small community of believers were destroyed on that day, who would be left to worship Him?

At Hajjat al-Wida’, the poignant and heart-rendering prayer he offered was a masterpiece of expression of his fear of God. He prayed to his Lord. ‘O Allah, You listen to my supplications and You know my condition. You are well aware of my hidden thoughts and visible actions. None of my affairs is at all hidden from You. I am a destitute beggar and a needy person seeking Your shelter. I am shaking and trembling and confess my sins at Your door. I beg of You like a helpless person. I supplicate like an abject sinner. I pray to You like a blind beggar terrified of stumbling, whose neck is bowing in obedience and his tears are flowing in Your presence. My body is prostrating in abject humility and my nose is in dust.’

Muhammad (sa) – The Perfect Man (Qadian, India: Nazarat Isha’at, 2015), 97-98.