What are the causes of a lack of humility and weeping? And what is the cure?

Question:
I am a young man who tries, when I am reading the Qur'an or praying or remembering the state of the Muslims, to weep, but I am unable to. What are the causes of this? And what is the cure?

Answer:
There are many causes for this; the lack of weeping has causes, among them:
The hardness of hearts due to sins and transgressions. When hearts become hard, the tears of the eyes decrease. And when a person holds himself to account, fears Allah, abandons His disobedience, and stands firm upon His command, his heart becomes humble and his eye sheds tears.
And among them is heedlessness due to the whispers that occur in his heart here and there, until they occupy him from humility and the shedding of tears. He may have piety in his soul, but the whispers overcome him until they occupy him from the remembrance of Allah, from magnifying Him, and from humility before Him. He may also be afflicted with thoughts that come to him, which also occupy him.
So he should gather his heart upon his prayer, his recitation, and his remembrance of Allah; and in this state, the heart becomes humble and the eye sheds tears.