Praying among people while crying and shaking
Fatwa No: 348019

Question

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, Shaykh. I weep at times during the prayer, without making sound, but my body moves when I cry, and hence my shoulders, who are in physical contact with other people, move; is there any harm if I pray in the masjid? I like to pray in the two Holy Mosques (Makkah and Al-Madinah). I have more Khushoo (humble concentration) there, praise be to Allaah, than when I pray at home. It is urgent; please advise. I do not know if other people also move when they cry or whether it is just me due to being afflicted with magic. Please, if you can respond today; it is urgent, and i am worried. In a few days, I am going to Makkah, Allaah willing, so I want to know. Please let me know whether I can pray in the mosques? Some verses and some recitations make me cry, and having Khushoo is so beautiful, praise be to Allaah. I want to experience that. Please advise, Shaykh. I love praying in the two Holy Mosques. May Allaah reward you.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

There is nothing wrong with crying, and this slight movement does not affect the validity of the prayer. However, we advise you not to cry when you are with people, and you may cry when you are alone, between you and your Lord, as this is closer to sincerity and further from showing off. For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 334108.

We also advise you, when you are overwhelmed by crying, not to move your body so as not to harm the people beside you, and in order to achieve complete Khushoo' (state of humble submission) in prayer.

There is no harm on you to go pray in Al-masjid Al-Haraam, but you should heed the advice that we have given you.

Allah knows best.

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