The Story of a Verse That Makes the Prophet Drop Tears

Abdullah bin Mas'ud is one of the generation of friends who has close intimacy with the Prophet. He became a loyal khadim (servant) and often followed where the Prophet left, bringing his needs, even on certain occasions he was allowed into the Prophet's private room. Among the blessings from this close relationship, Abdullah bin Masud absorbed a lot of knowledge and exemplary from the holy man, who later catapulted his name as a friend who understood the Qur'an deeply.

An example of the closeness of the relationship is the story of the Prophet who once asked Abdullah bin Masud to read to him the verses of the Qur'an. It was clear that Abdullah was surprised.

"O Messenger of Allah! Do I (readily) read the Qur'an for you while he is revealed to you? "

"I'm happy to hear it from people other than myself," said the Prophet.

Abdullah also granted the Prophet's request by reading Surat an-Nisa 'fluently. However, Your Majesty suddenly asked him to stop when Abdullah arrived at the verse:

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا
"Then what (as for those who disobey later), if We bring someone a witness (apostle) from each people and We bring you (Muhammad) as a witness of them (as your people)." (Surat an-Nisa ' : 41)

Jleb! Abdullah bin Masud stopped reading. He turned to the face of the Messenger of Allah and watched the tears melt from the two eyelids of the messenger of Allah. Such is the story that we can read in the hadiths of the history of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim.

The hadith shows how humble the Prophet was, as the recipient of the revelation, wanted to listen to the string of readings from the mouth of his servant. This event also teaches that people who listen to the Qur'an's reading are no worse than those who read it. In fact, because the focus is on living the contents of the reading, the listener can better absorb and capture the core message of the Qur'an.

Verse 41 of Surat an-Nisa explains the position of the Prophet Muhammad, who in the hereafter will be a witness to his lawless people. The cry of the Prophet became a marker of the softness of his heart which did not reach the hearts of his people who would accept suffering — even if it was their own actions. In the next verse it is revealed that those who disobey Allah and His apostles ask that they be submerged into the earth.

According to the Tafsir al-Baidlâwi, they want to be leveled with the land as if they were dead. Or it is created just like land that has no deed responsibility. Maybe he meant to avoid torture. Even though, walâ yaktumûnaLlâha hadîtsân (they cannot hide anything from Allah)