Assalamualikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu. The following are a compilation of essential questions and answers related to fasting the six days of Shawwal after Ramadan, do read them and benefit from them, In-Sha-Allah.
Summary of the note:
1. Fasting six days in Shawwal after Ramadan is highly virtuous, akin to fasting the entire year, as emphasized in Sahih Muslim and other authentic Hadiths.
2. The virtue of fasting six days is not limited to Shawwal; it can be observed at any time after Ramadan, according to various scholars.
3. It’s permissible to fast the six days of Shawwal before completing missed fasts from Ramadan, based on the broad time frame for making up missed fasts.
4. If unable to fast in Shawwal due to valid reasons, one can make up for it later, and still attain the rewards.
5. To maximize rewards, align fasting in Shawwal with Mondays, the middle days of the lunar month, or other recommended fasting days.
6. Fasting the six days consecutively at the beginning of Shawwal is recommended, but non-consecutive fasting or delaying them within Shawwal is permissible.
The Above Points Have Been Explained In Detail Below
The Virtue of fasting 6 days in Shawwal after Ramadan
Abu Ayyub reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he has fasted for the entire year.” (Sahih Muslim 1164)
Thawban reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Fasting the month of Ramadan is like ten months of fasting and fasting six days of Shawwal is like two months of fasting. Thus, they are like fasting for a year.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 2115, Sahih (Al-Albani))
Virtue of fasting any 6 days after Ramadan
It was narrated from Thawban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever fasts six days after the Fitr will have completed the year, for whoever does a good deed will have the reward of ten like it.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1715, Sahih (Zubair Ali Zai))
According to many Ulama the virtues of fasting the entire year, may be attained by fasting the six days of Shawwal or other than Shawwal, because Allah said: “Whoever comes with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold. …” (Quran 6:160)
Al-‘Adawi said in his commentary on Sharh Al-Khurashi (2/243): “The Lawgiver only mentioned Shawwaal in order to make it easier with regard to fasting, not to restrict the ruling to that time only.” End quote. (See islamqa.info|83292)
Ibn Muflih said in al-Furoo’ (3/108): “It is possible that the reward may be attained even when fasting them at a time other than Shawwaal, according to some scholars. This was mentioned by al-Qurtubi, because the virtue of that is based on the fact that one good deed (hasanah) will be rewarded tenfold, as it says in the report of Thawbaan.” End quote. (See islamqa.info|83292)
Can we fast the six days of Shawwal before completing the pending fasts of Ramadan?
Yes. According to an opinion of the Ulama it is permissible to fast the six days of Shawwal before completing the pending fasts from Ramadan, as there is no evidence that such a thing is not permissible.
Sheikh Muqbil bin Hadī al-Wad’ii said: If one is able to make up the days wherein he broke his fast during Ramadan, and then fast the six days then this is an affair which is good.
If he is not able to fast them both, then it’s permissible for him to fast the six days regarding which the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it up with six days from Shawwāl, then it is as if he fasted for the entire year.”
Why do we say this? Because the time for making up the fast is broad, as opposed to fasting the six days; there’s no room for it except within Shawwāl.
As for the time of making up the fast, there has come on the authority of Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that she said, “I wouldn’t be able to make up my missed days of fasting except in Sha’bān.” Meaning: because she was occupied with the Prophet ﷺ.
(From the recording: Questions from Al-Mahrah. https://www.muqbel.net/fatwa.php?fatwa_id=2278)
If someone follows the opinion of the scholars who say that ‘the six days should be fasted in Shawwal itself’, if they could not fast in Shawwal because of a valid reason, can they fast them later?
Shaykh ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan as-Sa‘di said: “If he or she had an (valid) excuse, such as sickness, menses, nifaas (post-partum bleeding) and the like, because of which he or she delayed making up those days or delayed fasting the six days (of Shawwal), then there is no doubt that he or she will attain that particular reward (even if they fast after Shawwal), as was stated by the scholars. …” Al-Fataawa as-Sa‘diyyah (p. 230) [See the full Fatwa on islamqa.info|112141]
How can we increase our rewards when we fast in Shawwal?
Aligning the fasting of the six days in Shawwāl with Mondays, the three middle days (Ayyamul-Beez) of the lunar month, and similar days is recommended to maximize rewards and receive the rewards of both the fasting of Shawwal as well as the rewards of that particular day.
Should we fast the six days consecutively or can we seperate between them?
It is permissible to fast the six days of Shawwal non-consecutively.
Al-Nawawi said:
“Our companions said: it is mustahabb to fast six days of Shawwal . Because of this hadith they said: it is mustahabb to fast these days consecutively at the beginning of Shawwal, but if one separates them or delays them until later in Shawwal, this is permissible, because he will still be following the general guidelines of the hadith. We have no dispute regarding this matter, and this was also the view of Ahmad and Dawud.” (Al-Majmu’ Sharh al-Muhadhdha) (islamqa.info|7858)
-Compiled by Mohammed Manna (12th April 2024)
Saheehus-Seerah 