Many people look forward to the snow and holidays during the winter season. It is the best time for cold lovers, people who enjoy the low temperature. The days during the winter season are shorter than usual, that is because the Earth tilts away from the Sun in winters, resulting in daylight hours getting shorter and temperatures getting colder.
But for us Muslims, how can we make the best out of the winter season? With shorter days and longer nights, with freezing temperatures colder than our refrigerators, here are 5 things that you should do to reap rewards during winter! Despite the shorter days not being enough to fulfill our daily tasks and responsibilities, we can still make the best out of the longer nights during the season. Here are 5 rewarding acts Muslims can do when winter comes:
Dhikr is one of the easiest acts of ibadah that Muslims can do. It can be done anywhere and anytime; when we’re driving to work, going for a jog in the morning, or even when we’re relaxing having coffee.
Abu Hurairah also reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“He who says, ‘Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdih‘ (Glory and praise be to Allah) one hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the sea.”
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Allah S.W.T. mentioned in the Quran:
“And in some parts of the night, offer the prayer with it as an additional prayer and We will raise you to a position of praise and glory on the Day of Resurrection.” (Surah Al-Isra’, 17:79)
Shorter days allow us to accomplish fewer things during the day, especially after we’ve spent most of it doing our daily routines like working and taking care of the family. On the other hand, we have longer nights to make the most of. As nighttimes are longer than usual, it is easier for us to pray during the night.
The winter is the perfect time to perform Qiyamullail – any two-rakaat (minimum) sunnah prayer performed immediately after the Isyak prayer. Some examples are the Taubat, Hajat, and Tahajjud prayers.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him?”
(Sahih Muslim)
During the cold winter, make plenty of du’a especially during the night as it is one of the blessed times to make supplications. Du’as may not always be granted immediately by Allah s.w.t., and He may eventually bestow his servants with something even better. In some cases, du’as may not be answered at all, for Allah S.W.T is the All-Knowing, and He S.W.T. know what’s best for his servants.
As mentioned in a Hadith Qudsi:
“Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward (the person fasting) for it”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
With the days in winter being shorter, it is a golden opportunity to grab the rewards of fasting during this time. We gain numerous rewards from fasting, both physically and spiritually. Thus, it is important not to miss the opportunity to fast.
While many of us will enjoy relaxing, drinking something hot, and enjoying the cold temperature, for many others, the cold season will be a struggle, as they will lack food to eat, shelter and clothes to keep themselves warm. There are many people in refugee camps who are sheltered just with tents, which do not provide enough warmth to keep them and their families warm.
The upcoming winter should be the same for refugees and internally displaced people around the world as it is for us. Help keep them warm by providing them food, heating materials, and shelter with your donations. Your contribution to our Winter Emergency Relief campaign will ensure that those vulnerable to the freezing cold temperature have the essential items they need to keep themselves warm and safe.
