THE onset of winter can be quite draining and depressing, and the freezing temperatures make it quite common to hear people complaining. Winter arguably is not the most favorite season in the year for anyone, but contrary to popular attitude, Islam has the formula of success in this month. We don't need to suffer from the “winter blues” because winter is the best time to develop ourselves spiritually! Whilst many of us slow down our activities because of the conditions around us, our past predecessors actually rejoiced at the arrival of winter. It was said by Imam Al-Hasan Al-Basri may Allah be pleased with him): “The best season to a believer is the winter, its nights are long for those who wish to pray, and its days are short for those who wish to fast.” So, here are three spiritual tips to beat the winter blues: 1) Perform the night prayers The first act of devotion we can get into habitually, with the longer nights is to perform the night prayers. There is as much as a gap of eight hours after Isha so one can pray Tahajjud and sleep or sleep first then wake up early and pray Tahajjud. The blessing of winter is that it is our opportunity to ensure we pray Tahajjud because we can't complain that there's not enough time to sleep. And the best is if we can master praying Tahajjud this month for each night it would train us to keep this habit after the winter season as well. Allah says in the Qur'an: “Verily! the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for (understanding) the Word of Allah. (73:6) 2) Fast the short day The second spiritual tool to combat laziness in the winter blues is fasting; a space of only 10 hours between Fajr and Maghrib makes it easy Alhamdolillah. Iftar is like a late-lunch! We can revive the Sunnah of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays or three days a month, or if you're really brave you can try the fasting of Prophet Dawud (David) (peace be upon him) in which he'd fast one day and skip the other day. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the Hell-Fire 70 years further away from his face.” (Bukhari and Muslim) 3) Ponder over Allah's creation Allah says in the Qur'an: “Verily, in the heavens and the earth are signs for the believers. And in your creation, and what He scattered (through the earth) of moving (living) creatures are signs for people who have Faith with certainty. And in the alternation of night and day, and the provision (rain) that Allah sends down from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the turning about of the winds (i.e. sometimes toward the east or north, and sometimes toward the south or west and sometimes bringing glad tidings of rain etc., and sometimes bringing the torment), are signs for those who understand”. (45:3-5) Just take a walk in the midst of the cold, you will find that the sky and the white snow lands are a cause for you to reflect on the Oneness and Greatness of Allah as He commands in the Qur'an. When a leaf falls, you can be reminded of the fact that Allah is Al-Alim (The All-Knowing) for a single leaf doesn't fall without His Knowledge. And when winter is over and trees and animals come back to life, remember how Allah brings the dead back to life. So those are just three tips to boost our spiritual productivity and keep the cold winds of idleness and inactivity out this winter. May Allah make us of those who increase our good deeds in these blessed days, Ameen! Courtesy: www.productivemuslim.com __
