Question:
Is it sahih the hadith which states that infants’ tears are dhikr?
Brief Answer:
Narration which states that infants’ tears are dhikr is fake/fabricated. This hadith may not be spread and referred as the Prophet PBUH’s saying. So, we as Muslims are advised to always be cautious in spreading any text of hadith or news without first analyzing its authenticity.
Explanation
Islam is a religion that reserves the authenticity of a saying especially hadith of the Prophet PBUH. This is to avoid any falsehood upon the Prophet PBUH’s name. This is based on a strict warning of the Prophet PBUH in his hadith on committing falsehood in the name of the Prophet PBUH.
Based on analyzation towards accredited books of hadith, there is no accepted (maqbul) narration on that infants’ tears are dhikr. However, the narration is stated in books which gather fabricated/fake narration. Here is the text for that narration which is referred to Ibn ‘Umar RA that the Prophet PBUH said:
لَا تَضْرِبُوا أَوْلادَكُمْ عَلَى بُكَائِهِمْ، فَبُكَاءُ الصَّبِيِّ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ، وَأَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ الصَّلاةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَأَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ دُعَاءٌ لِوَالِدَيْهِ
Do not smack your children when they cry because tears of four-month infants are them saying syahada. The second four months of their birth are them praising the Prophet PBUH. Then, on the next four months, the infants will pray (for goodness) for both their parents.
Indeed, the above text is stated in several writings like Tārikh Baghdād, al-Mawdu’āt li Ibn al-Jawzi under the Chapter Darb al-Atfāl. Next, it can also be found in al-Lāli’ al-Masnu’ah fi al-Ahadith al-Mawdu’ah, Lisān al-Mizān and Tazkirah al-Mawdu’at li al-Fattani.
The Scholars’ Commentaries
Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi stated this narration as highly munkar. This is because, there is a problematic narrator in the sanad like Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim Ibn al-Haytham. (Tārikh Baghdād, 13: 246)
Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani stated this hadith as undoubtedly fabricated (بلا ريب). (Lisān al-Mizān, 4: 191)
Conclusion
Based on the above explanation, it can be concluded that the hadith ‘infants’ tears are dhikr’ is a fabricated hadith and of no origin. Spreading and referring it to the Prophet PBUH is sinful and haram. Therefore, each Muslim individuals shall be more cautious and take measures like tabayyun (verification) upon receiving any news from any channel whatsoever before being spread. May Allah SWT preserve our hands and tongue from saying and spreading news which are hoax.
Wallahu a’lam.