The Cold Treasure

The Messenger of Allah - صلى الله عليه وسلم - said:

Fasting in the winter is the cold treasure. Collected by Ahmad and declared as Hasan by Al-Albani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 4/544 #1922

At-Tabreezi stated:

This is due to the ability to gain a lot of reward without much effort.

At-Turbshati said:

The cold treasure is one that is attained with ease and simplicity without fatigue. It means that a person fasting in the winter gains reward without feeling heat, hunger or thirst. Mishkat al-Masabeeh: 7/190

Al-Mubarakfuri stated:

Meaning there is no hardship or fatigue in it, and everything beloved to them is named cold. It is also said that it means the stable and constant treasure. Mir'aat al Mafateeh: 15/293

Al-Khattabi stated:

The cold treasure means the easy treasure because the fasting person does not feel thirst nor heat.

Ibn Rajab stated:

The cold treasure means that it was gained without battle, difficulty or fatigue. So the fasting person gains this treasure simply and easily without much effort.

 

'Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – stated:

Winter is the treasure of the worshipers."

Collected by Abu Nu'aym, Ahmad in az-Zuhd: P.118 and Ibn Abi ad-Dunya in Kitab at-Tahajjud: P.422

Ibn Rajab stated:

Winter was considered the spring of the believer because the gardens of worship are enjoyed during it, the grounds of worship are roamed freely in it, and the hearts enjoy the ease of worship that is facilitated in its gardens. Lataa-if al Ma'aarif: P.365

Abu Hurayrah - may Allah be pleased with him - used to say:

Should I not inform you of the cold treasure?

People would respond: Ofcourse!

He would say:

Fasting in winter, and the night prayer in winter.

Al-Bayhaqi in as-Sunan al-Kubra: 4/297 #8238 - Mawqoof

Ibn Mas'ood - may Allah be pleased with him stated:

Welcome O winter, blessings are sent down during it, the night is lengthened for the night prayer, and the day is shortened for fasting.

Ibn Rajab stated:

As for the lengthening of the night in winter, then it is so long that a person can take his need from sleep then get up for the night prayer. So the person can recite all he planned from the Quran while getting enough sleep. So the needed rest and reciting his planned portion from the Quran are combined; he/she attains the religious benefits in addition to giving the body the needed rest.

 

Lataa-if al Ma'aarif: P.365

Yahya ibn Mu'adh stated:

The night is long, so do not shorten it with your sleep. Islam is pure, do not pollute it with your sins.

Al-Hasan al-Basri stated:

What a great season winter is for the believer; its nights are long so he/she prays during them, its days are short so he/she fasts during them.

'Ubayd ibn 'Umayr used to say upon the arrival of winter:

O people of the Quran! Your nights are now long for your recitals so recite, and your days are now short for your fasting so fast.

_____________________

Also see:

The Severe Cold of Zamhareer

How the Salaf Kept Warm in Winters