Saudi Gazette

 

Winter may seem dreary with its gloomy, grey skies, wet days, and harsh cold. In some countries of the world, temperatures have dropped to below zero, and it seems as if the sun is literally in hiding, as it rarely comes out to shine. Winter may not exactly be the season that most people rejoice in, but for the early Muslim scholars, it was their favorite season of the year.

 

The best of the four seasons is winter, because it is the season of worship and devotion.

 

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Winter is the springtime of the believer”, this Hadith was recorded by Imam Al-Bayhaqi.

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also 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.” This Hadith was recorded in Majma Az-Zawaid.

 

Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Winter is the prize of the worshippers,” as mentioned in Az-Zuhd.

 

With days so short, it is relatively easy to fast, to give up food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is a highly praiseworthy act of worship.

 

It helps bolster one’s faith, cleanses the body and soul, and is one way to gain exponential rewards from the Creator.

 

Today, the sun sets in Riyadh at 5:19, in New York at 4:43, in Islamabad at 5:13, in Istanbul at 4:50, in London at 4:07, in Frankfurt at 4:38, in Beijing at 5:06, and in Moscow at 4:13. The day can easily whiz by without feeling any hunger; it is the perfect season for Muslims all over the world to fast.

 

By fasting, you can turn the bleak winter into a spiritual, green spring.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The fasting person has two occasions for joy, one when he breaks his fast and the other when he meets his Lord because of the reward for his fast.”

 

When it was winter time, the righteous companion, Ubaid bin Umair, would say, “O people of the Qur’an! Your nights are now long for you to recite in. So, recite. Your days are now short for you to fast in. So, fast.”

And, it was narrated that Ibn Mas’ud said, “Welcome to winter! Blessings descend in it; its nights are long to pray in, and its days are short to fast in.”

 

Nights are long, so you have extra time at night to pray, after the kids have dozed off to sleep, lights dimmed, and television set switched off.

 

The night prayer is called qiyam al-layl or tahajjud, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to perform this prayer practically every night. He (peace be upon him) used to pray between 8 and 11 rak’aat each night; this is a voluntary prayer.

 

The perfect relaxation technique to heal anxiety, depression, and an aching heart is prayer. By praying at night, you open the channels of communication between you and the Lord of all the worlds. Instantly, your heart will soar, the worries plaguing your mind will seem smaller, and the heavy weight your were carrying around will feel lighter. As for rewards, the prayer late at night is like a jackpot of good deeds.

 

The hours late at night and just before dawn are when the doors of the sky are opened, supplications answered, and the needs of those who ask fulfilled.

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended, “Keep up qiyam al-layl. It is the way of the virtuous who came before you. It draws you nearer to your Lord, atones for your sins, forbids you from evil, and protects the body from sickness.”

 

No matter how cold the winter is this year, we can keep our hearts warm with fasting, prayer, reading the Holy Qur’an, the remembrance of Allah, and giving in charity to the poor, who have nothing to shield their physical bodies from the bitter cold.