 So why did we cry for Ahlul Bayt alaihi salam? Some find it strange how we cry and become emotional when we hear the heart rendering tragedies of Imam al-Husayn and the Ahlul Bayt alaihi salam. But crying is a natural reaction to grief and sadness. In fact we are told in the Holy Quran that Prophet Yaqub alaihi salam, also known as Jacob, cried until he became blind because his son Yusuf, also known as Joseph alaihi salam, was taken away from him. If it was the case that crying so much was a bad thing, Allah would surely have reprimanded Prophet Yaqub alaihi salam for inflicting this upon himself. It is reported that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, himself cried when Jibrail alaihi salam informed him that his grandson would be killed and he told his daughter, Lady Fatima al-Zahra alaihi salam, or Fatima, every eye shall be weeping on the Day of Judgment, except the eye which has shed tears over the tragedy of Hussain alaihi salam, for surely that eye shall be laughing and shall be giving the glad tidings of the bounties and comforts of Paradise. The survivors of Karbala, in particular Imam Zayn al-A'badeen alaihi salam and Lady Zaynab alaihi salam, wept for the rest of their lives due to the horrors they were made to endure. When he was asked what the believer would benefit from crying for his father, the Imam replied, every believer whose eyes shed tears upon the killing of my father and his companions, such that the tears rolled down his cheeks, Allah shall accommodate them in the elevated rooms of Paradise, but crying is not just reserved for the tragedy of Imam Hussain alaihi salam, even though it is the greatest of calamities. We are encouraged to weep for each of the 14 infallibles alaihi salam and their oppressed companions. For instance in the Ziyarat of Imam al-Rida alaihi salam we say, peace be upon the one who asked his family to mourn him even before death reached him. The line comes directly from Ahadif wa Imam al-Rida alaihi salam said, when I received the order to be extradited from Medina, I gathered my family and asked them to mourn me. Furthermore Imam al-Sadiq alaihi salam said, Imam al-Baq alaihi salam asked me to gift a certain amount of money from his wealth to a group of women who would mourn him in Mina during the days of Mina for a period of 10 years. So you see he cried is seen as one of the best forms of mourning and is an act most recommended to us by all the imams of Ahlul Bayt alaihi salam. Because not only is it a mark of respect but it also benefits us spiritually. Imam al-Baq alaihi salam once said, whoever remembers us and as a result tears flow from their eyes. Even if the tears may be the measure of the wing of a mosquito, Allah will construct for them a house in paradise and make the tears a barrier between that person and the fires of hell. The Ahlul Bayt alaihi salam stressed upon crying so much they even encouraged their followers to pretend to weep if they were unable to. Some people may have an eye condition which may prevent them from shedding tears, or they may try to cry and be unable to, but Allah in His mercy has made the reward of a person who feigns weeping for the Ahlul Bayt the same as the one whose tears flow. This is shown through a hadith where the Holy Prophet peace be upon him and his family recited some verses of the Qur'an and the companions began to cry all except one young man. The man confessed to the Prophet, I did not shed any tears, but I imitated the act of weeping. The Holy Prophet peace be upon him and his family responded, whoever feigns weeping shall enter paradise. Whoever more from an extract from a lengthy narration, Imam al-Sadiq alaihi salam said and whoever composes a eulogy from Imam Hussain alaihi salam and feigns weeping then surely they have obtained paradise. May Allah make us amongst those who shed tears for his beloved ones and may he build for us all homes near him in paradise inshallah.