Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, would also start crying, to the extent that he would get unconscious. The constant flowing of tears had wounded the blessed cheeks of Sayyiduna Yahya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام. His beloved mother would place woollen strips on his blessed cheeks. Whenever he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would stand up to offer Salah, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would start crying which would result in those woollen strips getting soaked. When his beloved mother would squeeze out the woollen strips to dry them out and when he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would see his tears falling on the arm of his mother, then he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would implore in the court of Allah Almighty in the following words, ‘O Allah Almighty! These are my tears. This is my mother and I am Your bondman, whereas You are the most Merciful.’

(Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 4, pp. 225; summarised)

There is a valley between Heaven and Hell

It is narrated that once, Sayyiduna Yahya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام got lost somewhere. His honourable father, Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, kept looking for him for three days. Finally, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was seen at a place in such a state that he was standing in a dug grave and crying. Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said, ‘O my dear son! I am looking for you from three days and you are crying standing in the grave here?’ Sayyiduna Yahya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام humbly said, ‘Dear father! Didn’t you tell me that there is a valley between Heaven and Hell? Only he can cross it who weeps in abundance and is engrossed in the fear of Allah Almighty.’ Listening to this reply, Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام said, ‘My son! Cry.’ After saying this, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام also started to weep along with him.

(Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 1, pp. 493, Hadees 809)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic sisters! Weeping in the fear of Allah Almighty is a great virtuous act. It is a great privilege. If only we could also seriously shed tears in the fear of Allah Almighty and love of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. For this purpose, one should attend the Sunnah-inspiring Ijtima’aat, Madani Muzakarahs, Madani Halqahs of ‘Ilm-e-Deen (religious knowledge) and Ijtima’aat of Zikr-o-Na’at from beginning to end. You never know when