By Shaykh Syed Anisul Haque
12 December 2025

﷽ 

Brothers and sisters in Islam,

As we enter the heart of winter, it is impossible not to notice how quickly the world around us has changed. Only a short while ago, many of us walked into the masjid wearing light layers, perhaps just a single hoodie, feeling the gentle warmth of the late autumn sun on our faces. Now we arrive wrapped in coats and scarves, searching for warmth wherever we can find it.

This change is not random.
It is not coincidence.
It is not chance.

It is one of the countless signs of Allah’s absolute power and perfect decree.

Allah alone turns warmth into cold, long days into long nights, ease into hardship. He does so without effort, without delay, without error. And just as the seasons change around us, they remind us that our lives, our hearts, and our circumstances are also constantly changing under His command.

Winter itself is a reminder.

A reminder not only for the believer whose faith is strong, but also for the one whose faith is weak, the one who is uncertain, and even the one who denies. These signs are meant to make a person pause and ask:

Who controls all of this?
Who changes the sky, the wind, the temperature?
If not us, then who?

At that moment, the natural disposition Allah placed within every human being begins to speak. It reminds us that the universe does not manage itself. Nature does not create itself. Life is not unfolding without purpose.

Allah calls us to reflect:

And He says:

But not everyone sees the lesson.

Only those who pause.
Only those who reflect.
Only those who refuse to live life on spiritual autopilot.

Winter and the Reality of the Hereafter

For many people, winter feels negative. Short days. Dark mornings. Bitter cold. The struggle of leaving a warm bed. For some, winter affects mood, motivation, and routine.

But the believer does not see only with the eyes.
The believer sees with the heart.

When understood properly, winter is not merely a season of hardship. It is a season filled with hidden gifts. A season rich with reminders, lessons, and opportunities to grow closer to Allah.

Imam al Hasan al Basri رحمه الله (d. 110 AH) once said:

“Winter is the best season for the believer.”

Why?

Because winter shakes the heart awake.

Among its strongest reminders is the reality of Hellfire. The Messenger of Allah said that both the extreme heat of summer and the severe cold of winter are from the effects of Hellfire. The cold that makes us shiver, the wind that cuts through our clothing, the frost that stiffens our hands, is a reminder.

If this cold, softened by Allah for us, feels difficult, then what of the cold of Hellfire, which is not softened at all?

The scholars spoke of Zamharir, a place of extreme cold in Hell, more terrifying than fire itself. Bones crack. Hearts tremble. There is no relief.

Winter calls us to reflect.
To repent.
To return.

It reminds us that this life is temporary and accountability is real.

Winter: An Opportunity for Worship

Yet winter does not only warn. It opens doors.

The righteous generations welcomed winter because Allah made certain acts of worship easier within it.

Abdullah ibn Masud رضي الله عنه (d. 32 AH) would say:

“Welcome to winter. Its nights are long for prayer, and its days are short for fasting.”

The long nights invite us to revive the night prayer. Quiet hours when the world sleeps and the believer stands alone before Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.”

Night prayer is not exclusive to Ramadan. It is not dependent on large congregations or beautiful recitation. It is a private meeting between the servant and his Lord.

Even two units of prayer.
Even ten minutes.
Even a single sincere supplication.

Every night, Allah calls out, asking who will turn to Him, who will ask, who will seek forgiveness.

Imam al Shafi‘i رحمه الله (d. 204 AH) said:

“The supplication made at the time of night prayer is like an arrow that never misses its target.”

Winter is a gift.
Do not sleep through it.

The Cold Booty: Fasting in Winter

Then there is fasting.

Shorter days.
Cooler temperatures.
The same reward.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will distance his face from the Fire by seventy years.”

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه (d. 59 AH) used to say:

“Shall I tell you about the cold booty? Fasting in the winter.”

Reward without exhaustion.
Victory without battle.
A treasure waiting to be claimed.

Gratitude That Becomes Action

Winter also demands gratitude.

Across the Muslim world, people are enduring winter without warmth, shelter, or safety. Families sleeping on wet ground. Children shivering without blankets. Elderly people with no heating.

Gratitude is not words alone.
It is action.

Donate clothing.
Give blankets.
Support those nearby and those far away.
Check on neighbours.
Check on the elderly.
Check on those quietly struggling.

This, too, is worship.
This, too, is thanking Allah.

A Final Reflection

Winter is not merely a season.
It is a message.

A reminder of Allah’s power.
A warning of the Hereafter.
An opportunity for worship.
A test of gratitude.

Whoever understands winter understands something deeper about their Lord, and about themselves.

May Allah awaken our hearts, accept our worship, forgive our shortcomings, and allow this winter to draw us closer to Him.

Ameen.

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