When winter arrives, most people see one thing: inconvenience.
Rain, wind, cold, dark skies. But a believer is taught to see more.
- Allah says:
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.” [Qur’an 3:190]
Winter is one of those signs. A reminder that this life is changing, temporary, layered with messages for anyone whose heart is still listening.
1. The Treasure With No Battle
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
الصومُ في الشتاءِ الغنيمةُ الباردةُ
“Fasting in winter is the cold (easy) treasure.” [Sunan at-Tirmidhi 797]
- Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه used to walk through the markets saying:
أَلَا أُدَلُّكُمْ عَلَى الغَنِيمَةِ البَارِدَةِ؟ الصِّيَامُ فِي الشِّتَاءِ
“Shall I tell you about the easy treasure? Fasting in winter.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi 797]
Why a treasure?
Because it requires no struggle: No thirst. No heat. No long hours. Allah placed a gift in our path as if he is telling us to take it with ease.
Winter fasting reconnects us to Sabr, gratitude, and humility. And the believer knows: the simplest deeds often carry the greatest weight.
2. Long Nights for Qiyam and Qur’an
- Abdullah Ibn Masʿud رضي الله عنه said:
مَرْحباً بالشِّتَاء تَنْزِلُ فيه البَرَكَةُ، وَيَطُولُ فيه الليلُ لِلقِيامِ وَيَقْصُر فيهِ النَّهارُ للصَّيامِ
“Welcome, winter. Blessings descend in it. Its night is long for standing and its day short for fasting.” [Arshif Multaqa Ahl al-Hadith 167]
Qiyam in winter is soft and gentle. Your body has rested. Your heart is calm. Your mind is clear.
- Ibn Rajab رحمه الله said:
قِيَامُ لَيْلِ الشِّتَاءِ يَعْدِلُ صِيَامَ نَهَارِ الصَّيْفِ
“Standing in winter nights is equal to fasting the long hot days of summer.” [Lataif al-Ma’arif 327]
3. Reflecting on Allah’s Signs in the Sky
- Allah says:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا
“It is Allah who sends the winds, and they stir the clouds…” [Ar-Rum 30:48]
فَانظُرْ إِلَىٰ آثَارِ رَحْمَتِ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا
“So observe the effects of the mercy of Allah - how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness...” [Ar-Rum 30:50]
Every cloud, lightning strike, and raindrop carries a message. The Salaf viewed winter skies with fear and hope. Not as moods of nature, but as fulfilment of Allah’s commands.
A believer understands: nothing moves in the sky except by Allah’s order.
4. The Prophet’s ﷺ Awe at Clouds and Wind
- When the Prophet ﷺ saw clouds or wind, fear appeared on his face.
كَانَتِ الرِّيحُ الشَّدِيدَةُ إِذَا هَبَّتْ عُرِفَ ذَلِكَ فِي وَجْهِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
“Whenever a strong wind blew, anxiety appeared on the face of the Prophet ﷺ.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 1034]
- He said to Aishah رضي الله عنها:
مَا يُؤْمِنِّي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ
“How can I be sure it does not contain punishment?” [Sahih al-Bukhari 4829]
This was the heart that knew Allah best. Storms humbled him because they reminded him of the punishments that struck past nations. If he ﷺ, with all his closeness to Allah, felt fear, what about us?
5. Dua When Winds Blow
- When the Prophet ﷺ would see the wind blowing, he would say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِهَا وَخَيْرِ مَا فِيهَا وَخَيْرِ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ
O Allah, indeed, I ask You for its good, the good of what is in it, and the good of what it has been sent with. And I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil of what is in it, and the evil of what it has been sent with.”
(Allahumma inni as’aluka min khairiha wa khairi ma fiha, wa khairi ma ursilat bihi, wa a`udhu bika min sharriha wa sharri ma fiha, wa sharri ma ursilat bih) [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3449]
The believer does not curse the wind, the cold, or the rain. He speaks to Allah with awareness that every movement in the sky is a command being obeyed.
6. The Time When Dua is Accepted
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
ثِنْتَانِ لَا تُرَدَّانِ أَوْ قَلَّمَا تُرَدَّانِ الدُّعَاءُ عِنْدَ النِّدَاءِ وَوَقْتُ الْمَطَرِ
“Two supplications are not rejected, or seldom rejected: the supplication at the call to prayer and at the time of the rain.” [Sunan Abi Dawuud 2540]
Clouds fill the sky. Rain falls. And doors of acceptance open.
Winter is a season for long, deep, heartfelt du’a.
7. Umar’s رضي الله عنه Winter Warning
- Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه wrote an advice:
إِنَّ الشِّتَاءَ عَدُوٌّ فَتَأَهَّبُوا لَهُ أُهْبَتَهُ
“Winter is an enemy, so prepare its provisions...” [Al-Kamil 4/531]
Cold harms the body. Laziness harms the heart. Umar reminded people to protect both.
When winter comes, be sure to wear warm clothes. Guard your health. And guard your worship from the cold of negligence.
8. Taking the Sunan of Rain Seriously
The Prophet ﷺ taught us practices that can be applied in winter rains:
- Expose part of the body to the rain [Sahih Muslim 898]
- Say: اللهم صيبًا نافعًا (Allahumma sayyiban nafi’an) ("O Allah! Let it be a strong, fruitful rain.") [Sahih al-Bukhari 1032]
- Make dua during rainfall [Sunan Abi Dawuud 2540]
- If rain becomes harmful, say: اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا، اللَّهُمَّ عَلَى الآكَامِ وَالظِّرَابِ وَبُطُونِ الأَوْدِيَةِ وَمَنَابِتِ الشَّجَرِ (Allahumma hawalayna wa la alayna, Allahumma ala al-aakam wazzirab wa butuni al-awdiyah wa manabit ash-shajar) ('O Allah! Round about us and not on us. O Allah!' On the plateaus, on the mountains, on the hills, in the valleys and on the places where trees grow.') [Sahih al-Bukhari 1014]
9. Being Wary of Fires in Winter
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ هَذِهِ النَّارَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ عَدُوٌّ لَكُمْ، فَإِذَا نِمْتُمْ فَأَطْفِئُوهَا عَنْكُمْ
“This fire is your enemy. When you sleep, extinguish it.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 6294]
He ﷺ taught us to be careful with any open flame: candles, burning coals, fire pits, lamps and anything that can spread while we are unaware.
In winter, people rely on heaters, stoves and charcoal to stay warm, and many fires start from small things left unattended. A heater placed too close to a curtain, a candle left burning, or a coal that wasn’t fully put out can cause real harm.
The Sunnah here is practical and protective. It reminds us to check our homes before sleeping, to switch things off, and to make sure nothing is burning that could put our families at risk.
A simple moment of caution each night can prevent serious accidents. Protect your home and your loved ones by following the guidance of the Messenger ﷺ.
10. Extreme Cold Is a Reminder From Jahannam
- The Prophet ﷺ explained the cause of extreme cold in winter. He said:
وَاشْتَكَتِ النَّارُ إِلَى رَبِّهَا فَقَالَتْ يَا رَبِّ أَكَلَ بَعْضِي بَعْضًا. فَأَذِنَ لَهَا بِنَفَسَيْنِ نَفَسٍ فِي الشِّتَاءِ، وَنَفَسٍ فِي الصَّيْفِ، فَهُوَ أَشَدُّ مَا تَجِدُونَ مِنَ الْحَرِّ، وَأَشَدُّ مَا تَجِدُونَ مِنَ الزَّمْهَرِيرِ
"The Hell-fire of Hell complained to its Lord saying: O Lord! My parts are eating (destroying) one another. So Allah allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in the summer. The breath in the summer is at the time when you feel the severest heat and the breath in the winter is at the time when you feel the severest cold." [Sahih al-Bukhari 536, 537]
This isn’t just a hadith about temperature. It is a wake-up call.
The shock of winter cold, the bite in the wind, the nights that feel almost harsh - all of it is meant to remind the believer that the unseen is real. Jahannam is real. Its warning reaches us even through the seasons.
You feel the cold, and your heart remembers where safety truly lies.
Conclusion
- Allah says:
أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَ وَجَاءَكُمُ النَّذِيرُ
“But did We not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the warner had come to you?...” [Fatir 35:37]
- Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما said the reminder in this ayah is:
النذير هو الشيب
“The warner is your grey hair.” [Rawdat al-Abidin 354]
Every winter is one less winter you will ever live. One more sign that life is fading. One step closer to the Day when your deeds will speak for you or against you.
- Muʿadh رضي الله عنه said at his deathbed:
إِنَّمَا أَبْكِي عَلَى ظَمَإِ الهَوَاجِرِ وَقِيَامِ لَيْلِ الشِّتَاءِ
“I weep only for the thirst of the long fasts and the standing of winter nights.” [Lataif al-Ma’arif 559]
So ask yourself:
"Did I only feel the cold did I understand its message?"
Let this winter be the moment your heart returns. Let this season become your turning point before the Last Day arrives.
