Mufti Zakaria Haroon: Winter is the spring of worship. It is very dear to the beloved servants of Allah Almighty. During this time more worship can be done than in other seasons and one can easily get nearness to Almighty Allah. In the hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (RA), the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Winter is the springtime of the believer.' (Musnad Ahmad: 11656)

Below are 5 simple things you can do in winter:

Fasting more nafal
days are very short in winter. It makes fasting very easy. So during this season, if possible, more fasting can be done. In a hadith narrated by Hazrat Amer Ibn Masood (RA), Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “The spoils of winter are fasting during this time.” (Tirmidhi: 795)

Standing next to the cold people,
the poor and destitute people are crushed by the bone-shaking winter. Anon teaching of Islam to stand by the helpless people. Almighty Allah says, 'Give to relatives what they deserve and also to the needy and the traveler. Don't waste anything else.' (Surah Bani Israel, verse 26)

Performing Tahajjud prayers
Tahajjud prayers can be offered at any time. But in winter the nights are very long. It is easier to read Tahajjud in the last night after sleeping for a long time. Allah Almighty says about the qualities of the believers, 'Their side is separate from the bed. They call upon their Lord in fear and hope and spend out of the sustenance that I have given them.' (Surah Sajdah, Verse: 16)

Being aware of ablution and bathing
is the main and first means of purification. If these two are not properly and completely, the prayer will not be pure. During this time the human body is dry. Therefore, ablution is not performed properly if one does not wash properly. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, Hell is for those places where the water does not reach the ankles during ablution. So do ablution well. (Muslim: 458)

Learning from falling leaves
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was passing by a tree with dry leaves. When the Prophet struck it with a stick, the leaves suddenly fell. Then he said, if a servant says 'Alhamdu Lillah, Subhanallah and Laila-ha illallahu wallahu akbar', it washes away his sins like this; How the leaves of this tree have fallen. (Tirmidhi: 3533)