Fasting in Shawwal
Compiled by Imran Ayub
Alhamdulilah. Indeed, all praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from our souls' evil and our wrong doings. He whom Allaah guides, no one can misguide; and he whom He misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no (true) God except Allah – alone without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His 'Abd (servant) and messenger
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 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 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]
Therefore, 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]
Sheikh Muhammad Sâlih al-Munajjid[4] said, "The Hanbali and Shaafa'i fuqaha' explained that fasting six days of Shawwaal after fasting Ramadaan makes it as if one has fasted for an entire year of obligatory fasts, because the multiplication of the reward applies even to naafil fasts, because each hasanah brings the reward of ten like it.
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, as 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 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?
There seems to be a difference of opinion on this issue.
5.1a First view: Missed obligatory fasts must be made up BEFORE completing voluntary fasts of Shawwal
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said: "Whoever fasts the day of 'Arafah, or the day of 'Ashoora', but still owes days from Ramadaan, his fast is valid, but if he intends to fast this day to make up for a missed Ramadaan fast, he will have two rewards: the reward for the day of 'Arafah or 'Ashoora' along with the reward for making up the missed fast. This has to do with voluntary fasts in general that are not connected to Ramadaan.
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, because 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 (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. May Allah Exalt the mention of His slave and Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), and render him, his household and companion safe from Evil .
[1] Sunan Ibn Maajah, Volume 2, p. 513, Hadeeth Number 1717; Classed as Saheeh by Haafiz Abu Zubayr 'Alee, Darussalam Publishers, 2007
[2] Sunan Ibn Maajah, Volume 2, p. 512, Hadeeth Number 1715; Classed as Saheeh by Haafiz Abu Zubayr 'Alee. Authenticated by Sheikh al – Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah, Vol. 2, p. 77, Number 1402; as quoted in 'Fiqh of Fasting course', Module 5, p. 6, by Dr. Bilal Philips, www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/moodle
[3] Sunan Ibn Maajah, Volume 2, p. 512, Hadeeth Number 1716; Classed Saheeh by Haafiz Abu Zubayr 'Alee
[4] 'The virtue of fasting six days of Shawwaal' http://www.islaam.net/main/display.php?id=1549&category=112
[5] Narrated by Abu Dawood, 864; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 770, http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/22203
[6] See: 'Wabl al – Ghamam', with my authentication (1/520); as quoted in 'Fiqh Volume 1', p. 570, by Muhammad Subhi ibn Hasan Hallaaq, Darussalam Publishers, 2007
[7] 'Al-Majmoo Sharh al-Muhadhdhab'; as quoted in http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/7858/
[8] Subulus-Salaam, Chapter on Fasting; as quoted in 'Fiqh of Fasting course', Module 5, by Dr. Bilal Philips, www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/moodle
[9] Sunan Ibn Maajah, Volume 2, p. 514, Hadeeth Number 1721; Classed as Saheeh by Haafiz Abu Zubayr 'Alee
[10] 'Fataawa al-Siyaam' (438); as quoted in http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/islamqa/39328
[11] Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 1, p. 45; Volume 1, Book 2, Hadeeth Number 54, p. 85; Volume 3, Book 49, Hadeeth Number 2,529, p. 407; Volume 5, Book 63, Hadeeth Number 3,898, p. 141 – 142; Volume 7, Book 67, Hadeeth Number 5,070, p. 22; Volume 8, Book 83, Hadeeth Number 6,689, p. 360 – 361; Volume 9, Book 90, Hadeeth Number 6,953, p. 67; Saheeh Muslim, Volume 5, Book 33, Hadeeth Number 4,927 – 4,928, p. 242 – 243; Sunan Ibn Maajah, Volume 5, Book 37, Hadeeth Number 4,227, p. 251, Classed as Saheeh by Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr 'Alee Za'i; Sunan Aboo Daawood, Volume 3, Book 13, Hadeeth Number 2,201, p. 35, Classed as Saheeh by Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr 'Alee Za'i; Jaami' at-Tirmithee, Volume 3, Book 20, Hadeeth Number 1,647, p. 399 – 400, Imaam Tirmithee said: "This hadeeth is Hasan Saheeh. Maalik ibn Anas, Sufyaan Ath- Thawree and more than one of the A'immah narrated this Hadeeth from Yahya ibn Sa'eed. And we do not know of it except as a narration from Yahya ibn Sa'eed al – Ansaaree. 'Abdur – Rahmaan ibn Mahdee said, 'It is necessary that we put this Hadeeth in every chapter.'" Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr 'Alee Za'i classed this hadeeth as Saheeh.
[12] 'Fiqh of Fasting course', Module (audio) 5, by Dr. Bilal Philips, www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/moodle
[13] 'Combining Make-up (Qadha) Fasts with the Six Days Fasts of Shawwal', http://www.daruliftaa.com/question?txt_QuestionID=q-15354930
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