Fasting in Shawwal.
[Compiled by Imran Ayub]
1. What is the reward of fasting one day, for the sake of Allaah?
It was narrated from Aboo Sa'eed Al-Kudri
(may Allaah be pleased with him),
that the Messenger of Allaah
[peace be upon him] said:-
"Whoever fasts one [1] day in the cause of Allaah, Allaah will keep the fire away from his face the distance of seventy autumns (years) for that day."[1]
2. What are the virtues of fasting the
Six [6] days?
It was narrated from Thawbaan
(may Allaah be pleased with him),
the freed slave of Allaah's Messenger
(peace be upon him)
that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace be upon him) said:-
"Whoever fasts six days after Fitr will have completed the year,
for whoever does a good deed will have the reward of ten like it."[2]
So it follows that 29/30 days
(will be multiplied by 10)
and adding the 6 days
(which are also multiplied by 10), will be equivalent to one year (350/360 days).
It was narrated from Aboo Ayyoob
(Allah be pleased with him)
that the Messenger Allaah
(may peace be upon him) said:-
"Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal,
it is as if he fasted for a life time."[3]
Another of the important benefits of fasting six days of Shawwaal is that it makes up for any shortfall in a person's obligatory Ramadaan fasts, because no one is free of shortcomings or sins that have a negative effect on his fasting.
On the Day of Resurrection, some of his naafil deeds will be taken to make up the shortcomings in his obligatory deeds.
the Prophet~(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:-
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:-
"The first thing among their deeds for which the people will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be prayer.
Our Lord will say to His angels, although He knows best, 'Look at My slave's prayer, is it complete or lacking?' If it is complete, it will be recorded as complete, but if it is lacking, He will say, 'Look and see whether my slave did any voluntary (naafil) prayers.'
If he had done voluntary prayers, He will say, 'Complete the obligatory prayers of My slave from his voluntary prayers.' Then the rest of his deeds will be examined in a similar manner."[5]
3. How should they be done and is it obligatory?
Imaam ash – Shawkaani said:-
"It is apparent from the hadeeth that it is sufficient to fast for six [6] days in Shawwal, regardless of whether it is at
~ the beginning,
~in the middle
~or at the end.
Nor is it a condition that the days be consecutive, with no gaps between them except for the days of ('Eed) al – Fitr.
But if they fasted thus, it is better; although all forms are correct, it is more correct to fast them with no gaps in between them and the month of Ramadaan except for the day of 'Eed, the fasting of which is not permissible.
But as for the idea that those who do not fast it in this manner will not receive the reward of it, that is incorrect.
This is because whoever fasted six days at the end of Shawwal has – without doubt – followed the fasting of Ramadaan with six days of Shawwal, and that is what is required."[6]
Imaam Al-Nawaawee (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:-
"Our companions said: it is mustahabb (recommended) to fast six days of Shawwaal.
Because of this hadeeth they said:-
it is mustahabb to fast these days consecutively at the beginning of Shawwaal, but if one separates them or delays them until after Shawwaal, this is permissible, because he will still be following the general guidelines of the hadeeth. We have no dispute regarding this matter, and this was also the view of Ahmad and Daawood."[7]
Muhammad ibn Ismaa'eel as-San'aanee said;-
"It should be noted that the reward for fasting [the six days] will be given to whoever fasts them, whether separately or continually, immediately after 'Eed or during the month.
In Sunan at-Tirmithee [it is reported] from Ibn al-Mubaarak that he preferred [the fast to be] six days from the beginning of the month of Shawwaal. It was also narrated from Ibn al-Mubaarak that he said,
"Whoever fasts six days from Shawwaal separately is permissible."
My opinion is that there is no evidence for choosing them from the beginning of Shawwaal, as whoever does them in any days of Shawwaal can be described as having followed Ramadaan with six days from Shawwaal."[8]
4. When should we begin?
There is a common misconception that 'Eed al - Fitr last for three days; however, this is merely a tradition, not based on any Islaamic evidence.
It was narrated from Aboo Sa'eed (may Allaah be pleased with him)
that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace be upon him)
forbade fasting on the Day of Fitr and the Day of Adha.[9]
Thus, one is not permitted to fast on the 'Eed day itself, but can start the next day.
5. What if we have fasts to make up?
5.1a First view: Missed obligatory fasts must be made up BEFORE completing voluntary fasts of Shawwal.
With regard to fasting the six days of Shawwaal, they are connected to Ramadaan and can only done after making up missed Ramadaan fasts.
If he fasts them before making up missed Ramadaan fasts he will not attain that reward!
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: -
"Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime."
It is well known that whoever still owes days from Ramadaan is not regarded as having fasted Ramadaan until he makes up the days he missed."[10]
5.1b What if, for someone following the first view, there are too many days to make up?
Dr. Aboo Ameenah Bilal Philips explains that if there are men and women, who may have many days to make up, wish to attain the reward of fasting in Shawwal, they should make the intention to do the fasting in Shawwal, but they should not fast them, until after completing her missed days of Ramadaan, due to the narration~
"He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six [6] fasts of Shawwal…".
And he pointed out that by fasting the 6 days of Shawwal before complete the missed days of Ramadaan, would be giving preference of voluntary fast over obligatory and this is wrong.
He explained that if it happens that they cannot do the fasts (due to there not being enough days for them to complete the missed fasts and fast the 6 days of Shawwal), they will be rewarded for their intentions at least, insha'Allaah, as everyone will be rewarded for what they intended.
Narrated Ameerul-Mu'mineen, Abee Hafs, 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him):
I heard Allaah's Messenger (peace be upon him) saying:-
"The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrates for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."[11]
Thus, they should make the intentions to do them, even if they cannot.[12]
5.2 Second view: Missed obligatory fasts can be combined with the voluntary fasts of Shawwal, provided the correct intention is made....
Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari said,:-
"As for combining two intentions, i.e. making-up missed Ramadhan fasts (qadha) and the six fasts of Shawwal, one should principally make an intention of Qadha. Thereafter, as a 'secondary' intention, one may also keep in mind that it is the month of Shawwal. By doing so, it is hoped from the mercy of Allah that along with the missed fasts being made-up, one will receive the reward of fasting in Shawwal.
But, it is important that the main and predominant intention is of making-up the missed fasts.
However, it is better that one makes up for the missed fasts separately from fasting the six days of Shawwal, since some scholars are of the view that one does not receive the reward of optional (nafl) fasting when combined with make-up (qadha) fasts…"[13]
~And It is Only Allah Who grants success.....
My 'Salaams' to You All.
~Y a s m i n~
"All that is on earth will Perish. But will abide {Forever}
the Face of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour"
{'Quran'- Surah Al-Rahman-55.26-27 }
I Want to Die With my Forehead on the Ground!
The Sunnah in my Heart, Allah on my Mind,
Qur'an on my Tongue, and Tears in my Eyes!
'Insha Allah'!
' Son of Adam! You are nothing but a number of days, whenever each day passes then part of you has Gone.
{Al-Hasan Al-Basree}
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