In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Gracious
By: Abu khadeejah al-Atharee
Uploaded on the 17th of November, 11:15pm
Prologue
Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him - the Exalted - and we seek His help and forgiveness. We beseech Allah’s protection against the evils of our souls and the unrighteousness in our actions. Whomever Allah guides, no one can lead him astray and whomever He misguides, no one can be his guide. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship – in truth - except Allah, The One without partners as I also testify that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His slave and Messenger.
To proceed, It is from the benevolence of Allaah and form His signs that He direct the winds to effect certain changes in the atmospheric conditions. in his commentary on the verse:
وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
“And in His directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heavens and the earth are signs for people who use reason.” [Baqarah: 164],
Imaam as Sa’dee (may Allaah bestow mercy on him) said: ‘directing of the winds’ that is, cold or hot, southern or eastern winds…’
As the dry season approaches, we would like to share some of the rulings of the Sharee’ah peculiar to the season as follow:
Season Change and the Wisdom Behind It
It is from the benevolence of Allaah that He created the weather and the climate in differing forms to allow us experience different climatic conditions as they also allow for the ripping of plants, voyage experiences among others. Allaah says:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ يُرْسِلَ الرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَاتٍ وَلِيُذِيقَكُمْ مِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ وَلِتَجْرِيَ الْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And of his signs is that He sends the winds as glad tidings, giving you a taste of His Mercy (i.e. rain), and that the ships may sail at His command, and that you may seek of His bounty, and perhaps you will be grateful. [Ruum: 46]
The Season Is Not to Be Condemned
Ubayy bn Ka’b narrated: The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said:
“The wind is from the Mercy of Allaah; it comes with blessings and it comes with punishment. So when you see it, you must not abuse it. Ask Allaah of its blessings and seek protection from its evils.” [Aboo Daawud].
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: Allaah said:
'The son of Aadam makes wrong attributes to me by abusing the season while the control of the season is in my both Hands; I interchange its night and its day.” [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
The Cold Season and the Adhaan
During the cold seasons, it is allowed that the Mu’adhdhin proclaims that the people stay at home for their prayers during or after the adhaan:
Ibn Umar narrates that the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) would order the Mu’adhdhin to proclaim after the adhaan:
‘Say the Prayers in your homes', on cold or rainy night and when he is on a journey.” [Ahmad, as-Saheehah: 2605]
Purification During the Cold Season
Ibn Umar narrated, the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said:
“Three things are expiators of sins; waiting for another Salaah after a Salaah, perfecting the ablution during the intense cold and trekking to observing Prayers in congregation…” [Tabraanee]
Imam Qurtubee said: Ubayy said: “to warm the water to ease purification during the cold does not in any way decrease the attached reward.”
It is discouraged to face the blowing wind while urinating so that urine does not splash on one’s body. [al-Mughnee 1/186]
Salaah and the Cold Season
It is permissible to make Jam’ between two Prayers for reasons such as an intense cold. Ibn abbaas (radhiyalLaahu ‘anh) said:
“The Messenger of Allaah ((sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) joined the Dhuhr and Asr Prayer together and Maghrib and Isha Prayers together without an incidence of fear nor being on a journey.” [Muslim: 705]
Ibn Mundhir said: ‘It will be meaningless to consider it permissible only due to a particular reason since Ibn Abbaas stated that: “He did that in order not discomfort his Ummah”’ [al-Awsat 2/234]. That means, with any issue that can cause discomfort for the Ummah, the prayers can be joined.
Ahmad, an-Nawawee, Ibn Taymiyyah, ahs-Shawkaanee, Ahmad Shaakir and others among the scholars hold same opinion. [See: Ahkaamush Shitaa, pp. 45-90].
The hadeeth also proves that someone may stay back at home for his prayers due to the extremely cold or hot weather conditions.
The Cold Season and the Muslim Dressing
To some people, they cover-up themselves only during the cold season but during the hot weathers they go about nude. Allaah endowed us with the favour of coverings for us to be submissive to him. Allah says:
وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِمَّا خَلَقَ ظِلَالًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ أَكْنَانًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ سَرَابِيلَ تَقِيكُمُ الْحَرَّ وَسَرَابِيلَ تَقِيكُمْ بَأْسَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْلِمُونَ
“And Allah has made for you, from that which He has created shadows (i.e. shade), and has made for you from the mountains, shelters and has made for you garments which protect you from the heat (and cold), and garments (coats of mail) which protect you from your (enemy) in battle. Thus does He complete his favour upon you, that You may submit (to him). (Nahl: 81)
And He commanded:
"O children of Aadam, take your adornment [i.e. wear your clothing] at every masjid and eat and drink but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.” (al-A’raaf: 31)
Thus, the hot season is not an excuse for exposing the awrah since the Hell is severe in hotness for those who contravene Allaah’s commandments. May Allaah protect us all from it. Aameen.
The Harmattan, Fire Outbreaks, and the Muslims
The fire is our enemy and it thrives more during dry/cold seasons. The wild fire happens yearly mostly during dry seasons and are fanned by the winds and follow the air currents over the hills and through valleys. The Sharee’ah thus puts us to caution regarding fire outbreaks and its attendant causes one of which is the dry season.
The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: ‘this (naked) fire is your sure enemy and when you will go to bed, put them off.’ [Reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of Abu Moosaa al-Ash’aree].
Imam Ibn Hajar said: ‘the reason for the prohibition is the fear of conflagration.’ [Fath: 11/85]
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: ‘the Hell complained to her Rabb saying: My Rabb, ‘I’m consuming myself’. So, Allah allowed it to take two breaths; a breath in the winter and a breath in the summer. That represents what you experience of the severe hotness and the other represents what you experience of the severe coldness.’ [Reported by Bukhaaree (3260) and Muslim (617)].
It is thus pertinent for the Muslims to be cautious in handling fire equipments such as the stoves, burners, gas and electric cookers etc, and to ensure they are completely put off when not in use. And for those who burn the bushes, they should ensure the fire is not allowed to go out of hands as could cause loss of lives and properties. Allaah says:
وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ
“And do not throw yourself with your own hands into destruction…” [Baqarah: 195]
We pray Allaah to endow us the virtues of the season and protect us from its harshness and render us and our households safe from all misfortune.
wasallalLaahu wabarrik ‘allaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ahlihee wasahbih wasallim.
