Translation and Compilation: Aboo Sahl Dhikrullaah Adebayo
AlhamduliLlaahi wa bi-Hi nasta'een.
In everything, there is glare indication that the cosmos has its Creator. Thus, alternation of the seasons is one of the signs of Allaah as He says:
Verily, in the alternation of the night and the day and in all that Allah has created in the heavens and the earth are Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) for those people who keep their duty to Allah, and fear Him much. (Yunus:6).
Now - as known to all - the weather has changed, the winter had rented the season. So, it is dire need to know the rulings regarding it, as The Sublime says:
...We have neglected nothing in the Book (Al-An'aam:38)
Thus, this article only contains the summary of the book: Ahkaam Ash-Shitaa' fee As-Sunnah Al-Mutahharah of Abu al-Haarith 'Alee Al-Halabee. To serve as a reference to the masses. So, whosoever wishes to see the evidence, should go back to the source. From Allaah I seek safety and well-being.
The Winter
The word "ash-shitaa (winter)" is not mentioned in Al-Qur'aan except once in Sooratul Quraysh.
Al-Imaam Maalik said: Winter is the half season and summer is its (other) half.This is the authentic opinion as Allaah divided the seasons into two and not made them three.
Water Ablution
The rain water is clean and suitable for ablution.
Performing ablution during the extreme cold or hardship has more reward. But just rubbing the limbs may vitiate the ablution. Likewise not folding the sleeves (of the shirt during washing arms) is haraam and this kind of ablution is unacceptable. The only ease the shari'ah allows is to perform it once.
Al-Ubiyyu said (Ikmaal Ikmaal Al-Mu'lim vol.2 p.54): Boiling of water to repel cold and have enough strength to perform act of worship doesn't impede having the mentioned reward.
The Prophet (sallaLlaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) had a towel to dry his body after the ablution (As-Saheehah 2099).This includes all the seasons, without the specification of either winter or summer.
In Saheeh Al-Muslim: He did like this with water, i. e shook it off.This is the evidence of shaking water off from the limbs in both ghusl and ablution.
Dirt of the Pathway
During the winter, dirt and slime are in abundant and it may soil the cloth and its ruling may cause problem to some.Thus I (Al-Halabee) say:
It is not an obligation to wash the cloth in which the slime stays it, because the basic ruling about is (it is) clean.
Abdur-Razzaaq reported it in al-Mussannaf 93 and 96 from a number of Taabi'ee that:
They used to walk through the water and the slime during rain and they would enter the mosque and pray.
Likewise, if water falls on an individual and he doesn't know either it is impurity or clean. It is not an obligation upon him to ask, to avoid overburden oneself and indecision. Except, if he is sure it is impure. By that time, it is an obligation upon him to clean it.
At-Tayamum(Sand Ablution)
Anyone who doesn't find water or incapacitated of using it, either due to being far or disease or extreme cold-without the ability to boil it-it is allowed for him to perform tayamum and it is of no need repeat it.
Tayamum is the(striking of hand on the earth) rubbing of the face and palm. It can be performed on earth, stone and pebbles.(It caters for both ritual bath and ablution).
The next issue is, the ruling of rubbing on the socks.
I seek blessing upon Prophet Muhammad (sallaLlaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), his household and the Ummah.
