Grief is human, and this chapter draws a careful line: tears and a sorrowful heart are not blameworthy, but the tongue can sin. The chapter title in Arabic permits weeping over the dead while ruling out wailing and the kind of lamenting that protests against Allah's decree.
Watch the Prophet himself weep in these reports. His tears teach that mercy and tenderness are part of faith, not a failure of it, so long as what we say remains pleasing to our Lord.
Hadith 925
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عاد سعد بن عباده ومعه عبد الرحمن بن عوف، وسعد بن أبي وقاص، وعبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنهم، فبكي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فلما رأي القوم بكاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، بكوا ؛ فقال: “ألا تسمعون؟ إن الله لا يعذب بدمع العين، ولا بحزن القلب، ولكن بهذا أو يرحم " وأشار إلا لسانه" ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) visited Sa'd bin 'Ubadah during his illness. He was accompanied by 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf, Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas and 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with them). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) began to weep. When his Companions saw this, their tears also started flowing. He (ﷺ) said, "Do you not hear, Allah does not punish for the shedding of tears or the grief of the heart, but punishes or bestows mercy for the utterances of this (and he pointed to his tongue)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
When the Prophet wept and his Companions wept with him, he explained that Allah does not punish for tears or a grieving heart, but for what the tongue says, so sorrow is allowed while complaint against Allah is not.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 925 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 32
Hadith 926
Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أسامة بن زيد رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رفع إليه ابن ابنته وهو في الموت، ففاض عينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال له سعد: ما هذا يا رسول الله؟! قال: "هذه رحمة جعلها الله تعالي في قلوب عباده الرحماء" ((متفق عليه)) .
A grandson (child of the daughter) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was presented to him while the child was at his last breath. Tears began to flow from the eyes of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Sa'd said to him: "What is this, O Messenger of Allah?" He (ﷺ) said, "It is mercy which Allah has placed in the hearts of his salves. Allah bestows His Mercy on the merciful among His slaves." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Seeing the Prophet weep as his grandchild lay dying, a Companion was surprised, but the Prophet said it was mercy that Allah places in the hearts of His servants, and Allah is merciful to those who are merciful.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 926 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 33
Hadith 927
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم دخل علي ابنه إبراهيم رضي الله عنه وهو يجود بنفسه فجعلت عينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم تذرفان . فقال له عبد الرحمن بن عوف: وأنت يا رسول الله ؟! فقال: “يا ابن عوف إنها رحمة” ثم أتبعها بأخرى، فقال:”إن العين تدمع والقلب يحزن ، ولا نقول إلا ما يرضي ربنا، وإنا بفراقك يا إبراهيم لمحزونون". ((رواه البخاري، وروي مسلم بعضه)). والأحاديث في الباب كثيرة في الصحيح مشهورة والله أعلم.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to his son Ibrahim (May Allah be pleased with him) when he was breathing his last. The eyes of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) began shedding tears. 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf (May Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Messenger of Allah, you too weep?" He (ﷺ) said, "O Ibn 'Auf! It is mercy." Then he began to weep and said, "The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Rubb. O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your departure." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
At the deathbed of his own son the Prophet's eyes filled with tears, and he taught that grief and weeping are mercy, as long as we say only what pleases our Lord.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 927 In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 34