What aspects of winter make it of benefit to the believer, so that I may make the best use of this season?

Allah Almighty has made winter a fertile season for worship, obedience, and drawing closer to Him. Its short days make fasting easier for the believer, while its long nights provide an opportunity to spend more time in prayer. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “Winter is the springtime of the believer”
(recorded by Ahmad, Abu Ya‘la, and al-Qada‘i in their respective Musnads, and by al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan al-Kubra, who added,
“Its days are short, so he fasts, and its nights are long, so he stands in prayer” (Al-Haythami graded it as fair in Majma‘ al-Zawa’id (3/200).[1]

 

Making the most of winter

There are several ways to make the most of winter, the most important of which are:

1. Perfecting ablution despite hardship

Perfecting ablution despite hardship is especially virtuous during severe cold. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “Shall I not inform you of that by which Allah erases sins and raises ranks?”
The Companions said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’
He said, “Perfecting ablution despite difficulties, walking frequently to mosques, and waiting for the next prayer after finishing a prayer; this is ribaṭ (protection)” (recorded by Muslim).[2]

 

2. Standing in prayer at night

Standing in prayer at night is one of the greatest acts of worship. Allah Almighty praises the people of Paradise, saying, “Their sides forsake their beds” (Quran, 32; 16)
and “They used to sleep but little at night” (Quran, 51:17). Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “The best fasting after Ramadan is fasting in the month of Allah, al-Muharram, and the best prayers after the obligatory prayers are those performed during the night” (recorded by Muslim).

Although praying during the night is recommended throughout the year, it is even more strongly recommended and more meritorious during the winter. It was reported that when ‘Amir ibn ‘Abdullah was on his deathbed, he began to weep. When asked why, he said, “I do not weep out of fear of death or a desire to remain in this world; rather, I weep for the thirst of fasting on the hottest days and for standing [in prayer] during winter nights” (recorded by Ibn Sa‘d in Al-Tabaqat). Mu‘az (may Allah be pleased with him) also wept as he lay dying and said, “I weep only because I will miss fasting on hot days, praying during winter nights, and crowding around scholars in gatherings of remembrance” (recorded by Ibn Rajab in Lata’if al-Ma‘arif, who also noted earlier that praying during winter nights is equivalent to fasting during summer days). Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say,
“Welcome, O winter! Mercy descends in it; its nights are long for those who stand in prayer, and its days are short for those who fast”
(recorded by al-Daylami in Musnad al-Firdous).

 

3. Fasting

‘Amir ibn Mas‘ud al-Jumahiy (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “Fasting in winter is an easy gain” (recorded by at-Tirmidhi and Ahmad).[3]

 

4. Supplicating to Allah Almighty

It is recommended to supplicate to Allah Almighty, especially on extremely cold days by saying,
“O Allah, protect me from the bitter cold of Hellfire.” Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “When a man says on a hot day, ‘There is no deity but Allah, how intense the heat is today! O Allah, protect me from the heat of Hellfire,’ Allah says to Hellfire, ‘Indeed, One of My servants has sought refuge in Me from your heat, so bear witness that I have granted him refuge.’ Similarly, when a man says on an extremely cold day, ‘There is no deity but Allah, how intense the cold is today! O Allah, protect me from the zamhareer of Hellfire,’ Allah says to Hellfire, ‘One of My servants has sought refuge in Me from your zamhareer, so I hold you as a witness that I have granted him refuge.’ The Companions asked, ‘What is the zamhareer of Hellfire?’ He replied, “It is an abode into which the disbeliever is cast, where the intense cold tears his body apart’” (recorded by Ibn al-Sunni in ‘Amal al-Yawm wal Laylah and by al-Bayhaqi in Al-Asma’ wal Ṣifat).

 

The ruling

Based on the above, Winter is a season of great gain for the believer. One should seize it as an opportunity to draw closer to Allah Almighty by perfecting ablution, praying during the night, fasting during the day, and engaging in other acts of devotion. All these acts erase sins and misdeeds and raise the believer’s rank in Paradise.

And Allah Almighty knows best.