In Your Hidden Tears

by Imran Zaki

Our hearts feel heavy and in despair when we struggle with hardships. We feel sad, uncertain, lonely, and all the emotions that can weigh us down.

Just like trials and hardships are part of our lives, so do emotions are part of our being.

When we are being tested, we commonly hear the advice telling us to be patient and to trust on the better days that are yet to come.

But it is easier said than done, especially when things feel too much for us to handle.

Is it wrong for us to struggle with acceptance when we are surrounded with these complex and difficult emotions? Should we just be patient?

Through this book, author Imran Zaki takes us on a journey of finding courage and hope with the Quran when we are drowning in the darkness.

From the Quran, Allah SWT tells us the best of stories from the prophets and the pious people who were tested with hardships, and sorrows. May their stories comfort our hearts that even in our hidden tears, Allah will never abandon and leave us on our own.

Genres: Islam

205 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2023

Reviews

[moci · Rating 5 out of 5]

i dont think i hv any exact words to describe about the book but it's really beautiful and eye-opening. in this life, its very easy for us to be distracted by the worldly things kan? but its nice to hv a reminder yg allah is memang always with us :) so that makes me extra sad sbb berapa banyak kali je i'd be reminded of Him in a day? phew... all in all, the tadabbur part of this book is so perfectly written, that it touches every single inch of my heart, deeply. sedih sangat bila fikir balik on allah's blessings to me yg i always overlooked. let's just hope for a better me in the future, bcs im trying.

[Qayiem Razali · Rating 4 out of 5]

29/2025

-In Your Hidden Tears
-Imran Zaki, Nur Mikhaella Ismail (Penterjemah)

Saya sebenarnya menggemari naskhah berbahasa Inggeris daripada rumah penerbitan Iman, tidak kira sama ada fiksi ataupun bukan. Alasannya sebab penggunaan bahasa Inggerisnya sangat mudah untuk difahami. Tidak memerlukan pembaca mencari makna di dalam bahasa terlalu kerap. Ini antara faktor yang membantu kelancaran pembacaan terutama mereka yang kurang arif dengan bahasa Inggeris.

Sama juga dengan karya Islamik dari Iman, In Your Hidden Tears, akan membawa kita mengimbas bagaimana kesukaran ketika zaman Nabi boleh diguna pakai dan dijadikan pengajaran dalam kehidupan hari ini. Pengorbanan, kerjasama, keadilan segalanya telah pun tercatat pada masa lalu, yang boleh kita ambil iktibarnya.

Tahniah buat Imran Zaki, juga penterjemah Nuk Mikhaella Ismail untuk kelahiran buku membangun jiwa ini.

[Ridzuan Rosli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patience comes when we work on our faith. Faith allows us to remain optimistic. It encourages us to believe in the future that Allah SWT has arranged for us and to always start the day with new hope. It saves us from drowning and keeps us afloat. It uplifts our spirits and helps us move forward in the toughest times. – Imran Zaki, In Your Hidden Tears (2023).

The book taught me about hope and patience. It serves as a gentle reminder about life. Each individual experiences emotions differently, and similarly, their responses to events or situations vary. These responses could be mild, moderate, or overwhelming.

We often overlook the fact that it is perfectly okay to acknowledge what we feel. For instance, we tend to deflect or ignore our sadness, assuming that we can continue to function well. However, processing emotions helps us navigate life with greater ease.

This is a good book and a good reminder that emotions are just reactions that humans experience in response to events or situations. Nevertheless, I do not recommend it. It is an individual choice. Imran Zaki is just another privileged student who failed at university. He has never been retrenched, never lost someone he loved, and never contemplated jumping off his condo due to a lack of meaning in life. He is just another privileged "Abi Ummi boi" who failed his papers at university, and he came out with a good book like this.

[Firdawse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bon rappel sur la nécessité d’accepter ses émotions positives comme négatives, de se confier à Allah et de faire preuve d’une belle patience.

La narration des histoires de Prophètes en complément d’explications de certaines sourates du Quran sont autant de leçons sur la manière de gérer nos émotions et d’accueillir correctement leur expression par notre entourage. Cet ouvrage permet de se déculpabiliser de ressentir des émotions négatives et d’éviter d’être dans le jugement quand on accompagne une personne plongée dans la tristesse. Bref, à mon sens, c’est une lecture d’utilité publique.

[Mizan Hashri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narration is simple yet consice. While we're aware of the hardship experience by the prophets, Imran Zaki sum it beautifully and he illustrated how the prophet, is human too, battling emotion due to lost and betrayal.

[andarrzek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saya menangis baca buku ni. MashaAllah. 🥺 Terima kasih kepada penulis atas coretan yang sangat terkesan. 👍🏻

[Faz Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of those rare gems in life. I truly love it, adore it and have high regard about it.

Before I started reading this book I never truly knew who our Prophets were, their humane stories and feelings which actually are just like many of us. They went through life with their own individual difficulties but what can we relate to is how they coped with it. They too felt lost, sad, angry and desperate asking for Allah's mercy & signs.

Made me cry so many times just by taking myself seeing & feeling things from their perspectives. Normal human-beings will end up raging, having resentment towards God and stray even further away from Him for all the things they went through but not our Prophets. They are chosen because their hearts are so pure, soft and honest. All the trials that could harden them only made them softer (at hearts for Allah & their ummah).

For someone who didn't know how to love a person without a single word exchanged, a physical contact nor a distant relation this book taught me all of it. I am now in love with the Prophets with every fibre in my beings and the idea to learn more about them endlessly only deepen my love.

Syukr that I came across this book. Alhamdulillah.

[Nur Hasanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all Imran Zaki's work from IMAN publication. I've read Mendakap Kesedihan dengan Al Quran, Berdamai dengan Ketidakpastian and the lastest one is this 'In Your Hidden Tears'. There are some similar points within these 3 books but I would say that it worth every seconds spent to re-read and contemplate upon those points though I already know some of the stories . Personally, I think IYHT is the neatest version among all because I could clearly see the sequence of the narrative and understand how the points relates to the objective of this book written. There are so many stories of the Prohets from authentic sources that justify sadness and despair as humanely nature. Besides, the author provides further elaboration regarding the stories that implies better understanding among the readers. There are some words that beautifully written that resonates my situation so well. I would say that, after reading this book I am determined to not easily judging others who always cry and me myself will embrace every tears shed in the future. Thank you so much, Barakallahufik 🤲

[Nurfaeqah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing with a heartfelt and solid message.

I loved that the author included the Prophets' stories along with the Quran verses to show that they went through hardships just like us now.

Everything in this book was absolutely true and I 100% agree on how to handle your emotions while also being able to maintain your faith. It's especially realistic and doable. I obviously loved the last chapter where the author explains on Surah Ad-Dhuha. That was truly insightful and interesting.

The book isn't something I haven't read before or something I can't figure out on my own but it's always nice to have a physical book that has all these notes as a reminder.

[Aina Hazim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book personally because it goes in depth of each stories in the Quran about our prophet and all. Of course, it is not a book to read in one go. It is a book to pick up when you are feeling hopeless and down, only then it will resonates with you. I read it slowly as I would like to ponder longer and do more reflections each.

Lacking one star because I wish it can be a bit more personal into his life or like in-depth into his real life situations but overall still such a nice book. Highly recommends.

[Dios Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it does feel comforting to be reminded that our prophets are human beings before they are the Messengers of Allah, I guess I expected the book to be backed more with critical approaches. But I'm not familiar with religious books, therefore I don't know if this is just how the these genre is written. That being said I'm quite glad that this is the first religious book I read purely for interest, because I'm interested to find more of these in the future.

[Shafikah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really love this book.. sebab penulis banyak relates kan kehidupan kita dengan ayat al-quran serta kisah kehidupan para nabi dengan cara pendekatan yang santai namun sampai.. baca buku ni buat kita lagi ingin belajar sirah lebih mendalam.. for me, this is one of my healing book..

[Gitta Annisa Vania Suganda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nangis banget baca penjelasan dan kisah-kisah Nabi. Merasa gak sendirian menghadapi ujian-ujian dunia. Mashaa Allah..

[Norhidayati Podari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Good explanation and example from Al-Quran history.

[Nanadhoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating sebenar: 4.4/5.0

[Simple Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Sumayya · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully written

[Cellini Kamil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a good book but I feel like it need more. I didn't feel it is enough and cover enough of worrying heart :)

[midori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written in english version.
Explaination regarding surah al-Kauthar and ad-Dhuha are profound especially the author explained by words and relate it with fathomable emotions.

[Hasliza Rajab · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to manage our emotions so that it won't affect our lives? According to this book, there are 3 ways in managing our emotions :

1. Acknowledge the emotion.
2. Always rely and depend on the Most Worthy God.
3. Keep moving forward with the hope of finding a solution

What we go through in life is accompanied by various types of emotions that affect how we manage our lives. When we are happy, we feel motivated; when we are sad, we feel the opposite. Through this book, the author tries to guide us to recognize the negative emotions we experience as something positive. Everything that Allah presents in our lives is for our own good sake. It teaches us to recognize and understand that this world is a temporary place, a place of trials to test our level of faith. Therefore, faith and emotions must be in-line. It comes together!

“To be a “faithful Muslim” is a lot of things, but it does not require us to suppress the very thing that makes us human – our emotions”.

Remember the story of Prophet Yusuf dan his father Prophet Ya’qub?

Both of them experienced an unforgettable life event. Prophet Yusuf was taken away from his father, and the father continued to grieve the loss of his beloved son. Previously, we might read this story merely as information from various events and narratives in the Quran. However, in this book, the author explains and tells this story in detail, including how certain words are used in the verse, allowing us to delve into what Prophet Ya'qub felt. The sadness experienced by Prophet Ya'qub was true sorrow.

But what did Prophet Ya'qub say?

“Indeed, I am only complaining about my hardships and sorrows to God” (Yusuf:86)

There are many more stories of the Prophets that can help us understand and accept that negative emotions are not actually bad. The Prophets also experienced them, the difference lies in how we control and navigate these feelings so that we remain on the right path.

"Let us be kind and true to ourselves. Be willing to grant ourselves permission to feel deeply. Withis this scared space between us and God, we unlock the doors to authenticity and self-compassion".

Read this book, so that you know how to embrace and acknowledge your negative emotions and drive it to the right way!