Authenticity of the narration 'Lack of tears is due to a hard heart'

2-6-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

I would just like to verify the textual source and authenticity of the hadith,
"The Prophet(Peace be upon Him) once
delivered a sermon, and all of his companions were moved to tears. One companion approached the Prophet and complained of the fact that he couldn't cry. The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said, The lack of tears is due to a Hard Heart, and a Hard Heart is due to Excessive Sinning, and Excessive Sinning is due to negligence of death, and negligence of death is a result of being ambitious in this world....."
I heard it in one Sheikh's lecture but could not find any reference online or any place else. Hopefully you can help me since you will have many more hadith books at your fingertips insha Allah.
Awaiting your response.
I would also like to remind you with question number 2212749 which I asked in December last year but have not received a reply yet. I will wait patiently insha Allah.
Jazakumullah khair.
Wassalamu aleikum warahmathullah.

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

We have not come across this Hadeeth in the books we have at hand. However, some of the meanings mentioned in this Hadeeth were narrated in other Ahaadeeth. For instance, Abu Hurayrah said that a man complained to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about the hardness of his heart, and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, advised him, saying: "If you want to soften your heart, feed the needy and wipe the head of the orphan." [Ahmad]

Also, there is a Hadeeth that is considered Dha‘eef (weak) by some scholars. It was narrated on the authority of Anas that the Prophet said: "There are four signs of misery: tearless eyes, a hard heart, excessive ambitions and attachment to the worldly life." [Ibn ‘Adiyy]

Allaah Knows best.