Aah...Alhamdulillaah! Winter is here.
The nights are long and the days are short..... the temperatures have dropped and the weather
is really cool!
What a perfect time to take advantage of the weather and utilize it to your benefit. You can
increase your good deeds, take care of your obligations and earn the Pleasure of Allaah all at
the same time!
How? One might ask...
Its simple. Make the most of winter by fasting during its short days and praying Qiyaam during
the long nights.
The smart Muslim is always looking for opportunities and ways to increase his good deeds, seek
forgiveness from his Lord, and improve his Deen. He values each and every moment of his life,
observing his duties to the best of his ability because he is preparing.....preparing for that
ultimate, inevitable meeting with Allaah, Rabbul 'Aalameen.
And the winter season is one perfect and easy way to do just that.
‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: "Winter is booty for the devout worshippers."
Meaning, it is easy to gain rewards from Allaah by striving in worship during winter through
fasting and praying than in the summer, which is like gaining easy warbooty without the
hardships of war.
Fast during the day
Since the days are short, it is easy to fast. How many of us have days of fasting that we have to
make up, either because of sickness, traveling, or just plain neglect and laziness? (May Allaah to
protect us from that).
And how many sisters have to make up their fasts due to feminine reasons, either from this
past Ramadhaan or even before?
We all know that making up the days of fasting is fardh on every adult Muslim man and woman
and not doing so is a sin.
Straight forward, its an order from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala. Allaah says:
"The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Koran was sent down, a guidance for
people, and clear verses of guidance and the criterion. Therefore, whoever of you witnesses the
month, let him fast. But he who is ill, or on a journey shall (fast) a similar number (of days) later on. Allah wants ease for you and does not want hardship for you. And that you fulfill the
number of days and exalt Allah who has guided you in order that you be thankful." [Surah alBaqarah:185]
Thus, we should hasten to fast the number of days we missed. And what better opportunity
than this?
How much easier could it get? The days are short and the weather is cool, so you don't really
get thirsty or even feel hungry. Allaah, in His Infinite Mercy, is providing us with an easy
opportunity to seek rewards from Him. So shouldn't we take it up?
Abu Hurayrah RA said to some people: "Shall I not point you to comfortable proceeds?" They
asked, “And what is that O, Abu Hurayrah?” He replied, “Fasting in winter.”
Pray Qiyaam ul Lail at night
As for the winter night.....it is quite....it is long and it is peaceful.
What more could one ask?
A night so calm and so long..... to stand in front of our Lord and beg Him for forgiveness.....ask
Him for guidance.....beseech him for His Mercy.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Aliyhi wa Sallam) said: “Our Lord descends every night to the lowest
heaven when the last third of the night remains, and He says, ‘Who will call Me that I might
answer him, who will ask of Me that I might give him, who will ask My forgiveness, that I might
forgive him?’” (Bukhaari)
And he (Sal Allaahu Aliyhi wa Sallam) said:
“You should pray qiyaam al-layl, for it is the custom of the righteous who came before you and
it brings you closer to your Lord, and expiates sins and prevents misdeeds.” (al-Tirmidhi- hasan
by al-Albaani)
What better chance than this to pray Tahajjud and to read Qur'aan?
‘Ubayd b. ‘Umayr RA said: "It used to be said when winter came: O people of the Qur`aan, the
night has become long so you can pray (more) and the day has become short for you to fast."-
(Abu Nu’aym, Hilyat Al-Awliyaa`)
Yazeed al-Riqaashi said: “A lot of Tahajjud brings delight to the worshippers, and a lot of thirst
(i.e., fasting), brings joy when they meet Allaah.”
So when the cold hits you and the weather gets you down, don't get discouraged. Instead of
sleeping away the night and wasting away the day, look on the bright side and make the most
of it. Put this time of year in a whole new perspective. Remind yourself of the many acts of
worship and benefits that this time of the year brings with it rather than just focusing on how
cold it is. One of the righteous used to say: "I have never heard the adhaan except that I remember the
caller who will announce the Day of Resurrection, and I never see the falling snow except that I
imagine the flying pages of the records of peoples deeds (on that day), and I never see swarms
of locusts except that I think about the Great Gathering on the Last Day."
And actually, if you think about it, the winter is a big blessing from among the innumerable,
uncountable blessings of Allaah. He is honoring us by the bounty of His Giving, His Gracious
Blessing and His Great Favor, so that we may be able to pray qiyaam, fast during the day and
worship Him.
May Allaah enable us all to make better use of our winters. Ameen.
“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true
believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with
respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in
proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” [Surah al-Nahl
16:97]
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