Question: Are these Prophetic narrations about winter authentic? ‘Winter is the best season for the believer. Its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in.’ ‘Fasting in the winter is the easy prize.’ Answer: For the reasons set out below, it doesn’t appear that the cited traditions are judged to be authentic ( Ṣaḥīḥ ). Caution should always be exercised where statements are attributed to the Prophet peace be upon him, but do not carry mention of the narrator ( rāwi ), channel of transmission ( isnād ) or even on occasion, the collection from where it is taken from. Best practice dictates that these details should be mentioned. Where narrations are not authentic, that should also be highlighted, since it will allow the reader to know that it cannot be judged beyond reasonable doubt, as being an authentic statement of the Prophet peace be upon him. Reasoning The first narration is cited in as-Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqy,
"Thoughts are the greatest wealth of any nation."