❄️ The believer's secret season

3rd Jumada-II 1447H

Assalamu'alaikum,

It's getting cold here in Dallas, and as I write this, a thunderstorm is rumbling through the area.

I'll be honest: I don't like cold weather. I was born in East Africa, and I don't think my body was programmed for freezing winters (For my readers in colder climates who are thinking "Dallas is warm, bro!", may Allah help you, I don't know how you do it!)

Having said that, I came across a saying by our early predecessors that made me appreciate winter:

«الشِّتَاءُ رَبِيعُ الْمُؤْمِنِ»

"Winter is the spring of the believers."

And Umar Bin Al-Khattab used to say «الشِّتَاءُ غَنِيمَةُ الْعَابِدِينَ» translated as “Winter is the treasure of the worshippers.”

I realized what Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and our early predecessors were referring to: the opportunity to increase our worship during winter with ease.

In winter, the days get shorter and the nights get longer. You can sleep seven to eight hours and still wake up for tahajjud and fajr without feeling sleep-deprived. 

You can stay up after Isha for reading or reciting the Quran and still get to bed at a reasonable hour. 

You can fast most days without the grueling 14+ hour summer fasts that leave you thirsty and hungry.

Unfortunately, most of us experience winter through a secular prism. We think of winter as a season for holiday shopping, end-of-year parties, school breaks, and end-of-year reviews.

But what if we experienced winter differently? What if we viewed winter as an opportunity to draw closer to Allah, especially before Ramadan?

Think of winter as a "restart season", a time to start developing spiritual habits that carry us into a full-fledged spring and summer routine. For example:

1. Use the longer nights in winter to establish your tahajjud or fajr on time practice. If you've never prayed tahajjud before, this is a great time to start. You'll be well-rested and can still get that private one-on-one time with Allah before fajr. Set your 30-45 minutes before Fajr, and maintain that practice as the seasons slowly shift to spring and summer.

2. Fast more frequently during this season. If you have make-up fasts, this is a great time to complete them, well before Ramadan arrives.  Even one or two days of fasting a week adds up quickly when the days are short. This also helps build the habit of voluntary fasting throughout the year.

3. Shift your sadaqah to focus on seasonal needs. As you experience the cold, and enjoy the warmth of your home and winter clothes, think of our brothers and sisters who’ll face this winter without these blessings. So channel some of your sadaqah to winter clothing drives (especially for our brothers and sisters in Gaza), heating assistance for those in need, and emergency shelter support.

I pray this helps you experience winter differently beyond the cold :)

May Allah make this winter a true spring for our souls, ready for a beautiful Ramadan insha'Allah.

Sincerely,

P.S. What's your ONE winter commitment to become a better version of yourself? Hit reply and let me know.

P.P.S. If you’re in the southern hemisphere and are currently experiencing summer, enjoy the warmth & send this email to friends and family who live in the northern hemisphere.