Fasting Six Days of Shawwâl

Its Ruling and Its Reward


Fasting six days of Shawwâl after the obligatory fast of Ramadân is Sunnah Mustahabbah, not Fard. It is recommended for the Muslim to fast six days of Shawwâl, 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 be upon him. Abu Ayyûb, may Allâh be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allâh, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever fasts Ramadân and follows it with six days of Shawwâl, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” (Narrated by Muslim, Abû Dawûd, at-Tirmidhi, al-Nasâ’i and Ibn Mâjah). (In this Hadîth, the word "dahr" is used, which some say might also mean year instead of lifetime).


This is because the reward of actions is multiplied (at least) ten-fold. So fasting the whole month of Ramadân is like fasting 10 months, and the six days of Shawwâl like fasting 60 days. The Prophet, peace be upon him, himself stated this explicitly: “Fasting Ramadân is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days [of Shawwal] is like fasting two months. That is like fasting a full year.” (Narrated by Ahmad & Nasa'i).


How beautiful the wisdom of Allâh & His Messenger, peace be upon him, is!


In the Hadîth reported by Abû Ayyûb in the first paragraph, the definition of the word "dahr" can be expressed to mean both lifetime & year, because if you follow up Ramadân with the 6 days of Shawwâl every year, it is like fasting he whole year every year, which is like fasting your entire lifetime.


How it is Performed


One may fast any six days of the month of Shawwâl apart from the day of Eid al-Fitr, be it consecutive, non-consecutive or days which are chosen at random. And you should hasten to fast these six days because delaying may cause problems. This is the view of the Shâfi'is and some of the Hanbalis, but it is OK if you do not hasten it and you delay it until the middle or end of the month.


It is valid to combine the intention of making up missed Ramadân fasts and the Sunnah of fasting the six days of Shawwâl, though performing both separately is greater in reward.


If one is unable to fast the six days of Shawwâl due to some genuine excuse, one should make the firm intention that one would have fasted should this excuse not exist. If one is sincere & true in one’s intention, then one will, by Allâh's Grace & Mercy, have the full reward of fasting these days, because, as the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “Actions are by their intentions, and each person shall have whatever they intended.” (Narrated by The Group) The signs of being true in one’s intention is that if one’s excuse is lifted, one hurries to fulfill the intended matter.



The Benefits of Fasting These Six Days

Among the benefits of fasting the six days of Shawwâl is:

1. Sign of acceptance. It is a sign of the acceptance of one’s Ramadân fasts. This is because a sign of Allâh’s accepting a good deed is to be granted the success to perform similar good deeds, with consistency.

2. Consistency itself is beloved. The actions most beloved to Allâh and His Messenger, peace be upon him, are those done most consistently.

3. Sign of thankfulness. Fasting these six days is an expression of thankfulness for the reward of fasting that Allâh grants on the day of Eid. Continuing to fast is a sign of being “A truly thankful servant,” as the Prophet, peace be upon him, described himself. Thankfulness is the key to increase, and a means of securing one’s blessings and good.

4. Sign of commitment to continue. Fasting these six days is a sign of one’s commitment to continue in worship and submission to Allâh willingly, and not merely out of obligation.


Conclusion


As with any act of worship, it is dependent upon intention (niyyah). If the intention is not there, then the act will be unrewarded. As the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Actions are but by intentions". With regards to fasting, it is for the sake of Allâh only. If one fasts to show off, or to diet or just out of habit alone, there is no use in fasting at all, whether during Ramadân, Shawwâl or any other time.

And Allâh Knows Best.