Fasting six days of Shawwaal

Bismillah Al-Ra7man Al-Ra7eem

Asalamon 3leykom Wa Ra7matullahe wa Barakatu

So i have been fasting the first 6 days of shawwal begining only because since am already in the mood of fasting and use to eating once a day a meal and some tamr and water an naan here an there... u know?

anyways some ppl wanna wait till sat.. is cool u do watchu gotta do, but why wait>?? as wen u wait u wil 4 get and wont do it and wont get the ajr insha'Allah as u shud wen do it... plz read and learn


Fasting six days of Shawwaal after the obligatory fast of Ramadaan is Sunnah Mustahabbah. It is recommended for the Muslim to fast six days of Shawwaal, and in this there is great virtue and an immense reward. Whoever fasts these six days will have recorded for him a reward as if he had fasted a whole year, as was reported in a saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Abu Ayyoob (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:


“Whoever fasts Ramadaan and follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” (Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i and Ibn Maajah).


The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained this when he said:


“Whoever fasts for six days after (Eid) al-Fitr has completed the year: (whoever does a good deed (hasanah) will have ten hasanah like it).”


According to another report:


“Allaah has made for each hasanah ten like it, so a month is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days completes the year.” (al-Nisaa’i and Ibn Maajah. See also Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, 1/421).


It was also narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah with the wording:


“Fasting for the month of Ramadaan brings the reward of ten like it, and fasting for six days brings the reward of two months, and that is the fasting of the whole year."






Q If someone missed fasts in Ramadhan, then do they have to first make them up before fasting the 6 of Shawwal?






A The scholars have differed over this matter. No doubt, it would be better to first make up the missed fasts, however, if one first fasted the 6 of Shawwaal then made up the missed fasts it would be permissible. The reasons are several; among them that Allaah has allowed the missed fasts to be made up on a “number of other days”. Thus, we say that one should make them up before the following Ramadhaan. ‘aaishah (RA) used to make them up in Sh’abaan before the next Ramadhaan. And it is known that she observed fasting in Thul Hijjah. So offering nawaafil before making up those fasts is allowed. One may say that the hadeeth speaks of following Ramadhaan fasts up with the 6 of Shawwaal so how can you say this. In response, we say that the hadeeth mentions what is most common (ghaalib). As well, such a person did fast Ramadhaan as they were able and the remaining days may be made up at any time before the following Ramadhaan. In addition, imagine the condition of some women; they may have been in nifaas (post natal bleeding) and menstruation and for some doing the six days may not be possible if we insisted on making up Ramadhaan fasts first. Therefore, although it would be better to first make up the missed fasts then fast the 6 of Shawwaal, if one first did the 6 days it would still be acceptable and fine Inshaa Allaah. And Allaah knows best.






Q When making up missed fasts from Ramadhan, can one combine an intention for them and the 6 days of Shawwal?


A This is not acceptable as the six fasts of Shawwaal are meant to be separate from the fasts of Ramadhaan. And Allaah knows best.






Q Can I fast the six days of Shawwal on Mondays and Thursdays and have a combined intention?


A Yes, Inshaa Allaah that is permissible. One would be fasting on Monday or Thursday and also be doing so in Shawwaal. It is not necessary that they be separate fasts like those of Ramadhaan. And Allaah knows best.