Fasting the 6 Days of Shawwaal [Q&A]

 

FAST YOUR MISSED FASTS FIRST

Question:

“Is it permissible to fast the six days of Shawwaal before making up the missed fasts of Ramadhan? And is it permissible to fast on Monday in the month of Shawwaal with the intention of making up the missed fasts of Ramadhan, and with the intention of attaining the reward of fasting on the Monday? 

 Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen – may Allaah have Mercy on him– answered:“The reward of fasting the six days of Shawwaal is not attained except if a person has completed the month’s fasts of Ramadhan, so whoever has some missed fasts from Ramadhan then let him not fast the six days of Shawwaal until he has completed the missed fasts of Ramadhan, because the Prophet sal`Allaahu ‘alayhi wa-salaam said: ” Whoever fasts Ramadhan then follows that with six from Shawwaal, it would be as if he fasted perpetually”

[related by Muslim, no. 2614].

So based upon this, we say to anyone who has missed fasts, upon him is that he must fast those first, then fast the six days of Shawwaal. And if it happens that these six days fall upon a Monday or Thursday then indeed he will attain the reward of them both [the six days and the fasting upon the Monday or Thursday], with the reward of the intention of fasting the six days and with the reward of the intention for fasting Monday or Thursday, due to his sal`Allaahu ‘alayhi wa-salaam’s saying:

“Actions are judged by their intentions and for every person is that what he intended …. “

[Related by al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

REGARDING FASTING 6 DAYS OF SHAWWAL

Question: What is preferred regarding the fasting of six days from the month of Shawwal?

Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen – may Allaah have Mercy on him– said: ” It is preferred for the six days of Shawwal to be fasted immediately after ‘Eid, and for them to be consecutive, as determined by the scholars. because that is better in order to achieve ‘the following’ which is mentioned in the Hadith:

“then follow it.” [1]

and, because doing so is a form of hastening to do good, which is encouraged by the texts (of the Qur’aan and Sunnah), and for which the doer is praised. It also shows the energy and resolution, which is part of the completeness of being a worshipper. For we should not allow opportunities (to do good) to pass by, since a person does not know what lies in store for him at the end of the day. A Muslim is required to behave in this way – I mean hastening to act and seizing the opportunity in all his affairs whenever the right course of action becomes clear to him. ”

[1] Reported by Al-Bukhaari in the Book of the Athan, in the Chapter: What is Said when the Caller is Heard (611); and by Muslim in the Book of Prayer, in the Chapter: The Recommendation of Saying What the Mu’aththin Says (384).

FASTING THE 6 DAYS OF SHAWWAL RIGHT AFTER ‘EED [al-FITR]

Question:

Is the fasting of the six days (of Shawwaal) a must after the month of Ramadhaan immediately after the day of ‘eed, or is it permissible (to do so) after ‘eed by (a number of) days in the month of Shawwaal or not?

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawaa – may Allaah have Mercy upon them– said: ” It is not a must for him to fast immediately after ‘Eed al-Fitr, rather it is permissible to begin fasting after ‘Eed by a day or (a number of) days. And (also) to fast them continuously or intermittently in the month of Shawwaal according to that which is easy for him. And the issue is quite open in this matter, and it is not obligatory, rather it is a sunnah.

And with Allaah lies all the success, and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad sal`Allaahu ‘alayhi wa-salaam and his family and his companions.”

Sources:

 

• Q1: Fiqhul Ibaadaat Page No.222 Maktabatul Iman by way of FatwaIslam.com
• Q2: Source: Fatawa Arkaanul-Islaam, DARUSSALAM, vol.2, p.674. by way of FatwaIslam.com
• Q3: Source: Fataawa Ramadhaan – Volume 2, Page 693, Fatwa No.698;
  Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. – Fatwa No. 3475
  by way of fatwaonline.com