By Bismah Mirza
Its winter and that time of the year, where it rains, snow, and the sky has shades of grey, gloom and blue. Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder, during this time people stay sad or suffer depression due to days being shorter and nights longer. But winters are a great time to be closer to Allah and this article shares how. Yes, winters are cold but they are a blessing for the believers. The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said: “winter is the best season for the believer. its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in.” [Hadith-Majma’ az-Zawa’id’ (3/203)]
Here are few things you can do as a believer:
1.Fasting or experiment with intermittent fasting:
Winters are a great time to make up for the fast. If you have missed some rozas during Ramadan due to sickness,health or any personal issue you can make up for them now. It is reported The Prophet Muhammad said: “Fasting in the winter is the easy prize.” By easy price it is meant that one does not have to face many hardships or battles; it is given as a gift to earn rewards. In simple words it is the favor of the Almighty towards HIS creation.
As days are shorter and one has to skip lunch and not only this weather is cool and you do not feel thirsty. So a believer should make haste in fasting in Ramadan. Also all those who are trying intermittent fasting can experiment during this time.
2.Make Wudu (Ablution)
Making Wudu in winters is tough especially during Fajar prayers but it is the most desirable act as Abu Huraria (R.A) states that Allah’s Prophet (P.B.U.H) has said, ‘Shall I tell you that for which Allah wipes out your sins, and raise your ranks?’ They (the then companions) said, ‘Of-course O’ Prophet of Allah!’ He said ‘Performing wudu well in difficulty and taking many steps to the Masajid, and waiting for Salat after Salat; that is the Ribat (the fortress)’.
Making Wudu in difficult circumstances is highly recommended but care should be taken by the elderly or sickly when performing wudu. So next time when you find it difficult to perform Wudu just remember that Propher (P.B.U.H) will recognize it’s Ummah from the traces of Wudu.
- Night Prayers
When winter comes, even angels feel happy. Sayyiduna Qatadah has said: Undoubtedly! Angels feel happy for believers when winter begins because a believer observes Sawm (fast) during the day due to its days being short and worships in the night due to its nights being long. (Al-Zuhd li Ahmad Bin Hanbal, pp. 240, Raqm 1251). Winter nights are long as the sun sets early and it gives ample time to the believer to make up for the sleep and stand in prayers. On the authority of Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri Prophet (P.B.U.H) has said that, ‘The winter is the Sprint of the believer!’ So in this winter set up an alarm for Tahajud and wake a few times in a week to pray Tahajud prayers.
- Make up for family times
Working late during summers, especially due to covid people, have no sense of time as they are working from home all the time and the transition time of going to work and coming back has blurred the boundaries of family time and work time. But in winters you can have early dinner, spend time at home with family. Be creative and plan activities for kids to snuggle in blankets with warm hot chocolates. Not only this, checking up on relatives, friends and colleagues.
Making tea or soup for the elderly or to a colleague can go a long way.
- Increasing the good deeds
Winters are harsh due to its weather for many during winters help yourselves and your kids develop the habits of charity. Ask your children to collect their old clothes, socks, gloves, toys, some blankets and give them to charity. This time of the season is one of the best times to increase good deeds. Here are some things which you can do:
You can start from your home, if you have house help you can arrange for warm water for them washing utensils and clothes. Providing warm drinks like tea not only to your house help,but to your watch man or society guards once a day atleast will help them keep warm. During winters, gas becomes scarce. You can contribute as a household or as a neighbor and arrange for gas cylinders for the needy or arrange a refill.
There are many ways we can contribute. No act is small or big but it is your gesture which counts.
- Dua for Rain
With rain it gets cold but rain is a mercy of Allah. Before rain, recites, “O Allah, make it beneficial rain!” After Rain: “We have been given rain by the Grace of Allah and His Mercy!”
- Gratitude for keeping us warm
Be grateful to Allah for he has kept us warm and has given us food which keeps us warm. Also seek protection from the cold part of Hell.
Winter is a blessing if you see it in the light of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and the sayings of his companions. Already days are getting longer so try to take maximum advantage of winter nights and days as ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (RA) said: “winter is the prize of the worshippers.”