What is the ruling on making up Ramadan and fasting six days of Shawwal together?

The questioner : This is a questioner who says: A woman.

The Shaykh : My son.

The questioner : Honorable Shaykh, a woman had days to make up from last year, and she did not fast them in Shawwal, but she fasted six days of Shawwal. During this month she became pregnant and was unable to fast until this Ramadan. What is obligatory for her? Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : Yes. First, fasting six days of Shawwal does not yield its reward for a person if he has days to make up from Ramadan. Pay attention, my son. For example, if a woman is menstruating and has days to make up, and she starts with the six days of Shawwal so that the month does not end before she fasts the make-up days, and she fasts the six days of Shawwal, then fasts the make-up days, this woman does not receive the reward of fasting the six days of Shawwal. Why?
Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said and she has make-up days from Ramadan, so she fasted part of Ramadan and did not fast the whole of Ramadan, so she does not receive the reward of these six days. Some students of knowledge thought that this issue is based on the disagreement among scholars regarding fasting voluntary fasts before making up obligatory ones. The scholars differed on this issue: if a person fasts a voluntary fast before making up an obligatory one, is this voluntary fast valid or not? For example, if a person fasts the Day of 'Arafah and has make-up days from Ramadan, is the fast of the Day of 'Arafah valid or not? There are two opinions among the scholars, and the correct one is that it is valid, meaning it is valid to fast a voluntary fast while having make-up days from Ramadan. However, it is better to start with the make-up days, because the make-up is obligatory and the voluntary is a supererogatory act. But we say if he says, "I want to fast the Day of 'Arafah and I will make up the days in the winter, for example," we say there is no harm, because the time for making up is extended until when? Until the time between him and the second Ramadan is equal to the number of days he owes. At that point, the time becomes restricted and voluntary fasting is not valid in it. Some scholars held that voluntary fasting is not valid without making up the obligatory ones, but fasting the six days of Shawwal is not based on this. Whoever thinks it is based on this should reconsider until the difference becomes clear to him, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made the reward of these six days conditional on what? On the person having fasted Ramadan. And whoever has make-up days, it is not said that he fasted Ramadan. It remains to be asked: Was not Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) having make-up days from Ramadan, and she did not make them up until Sha'ban? Did Aisha fast the six days of Shawwal, or fast the Day of 'Arafah, or the Day of Ashura, or the ninth of Muharram, or the like? We said Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was more knowledgeable than to think that it is permissible to fast the six days of Shawwal before making up the obligatory days.
As for her fasting the Day of 'Arafah, she may fast the Day of 'Arafah while having make-up days, because the scholars differed on that, so her position is like the position of the scholar who said it is permissible to fast voluntary fasts before making up Ramadan, and there is no problem in that. However, the utmost prudence is for a person to start with the make-up days. If someone asks, "Is it permissible for a person to fast the Day of 'Arafah with the intention of making up?" The answer is yes, that is permissible, because the make-up is valid on any day of the year. If he asks, "Will he attain the virtue of fasting the Day of 'Arafah?" We say we hope so, due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or because when he was asked about fasting the Day of 'Arafah, he said and the year that follows it. This is similar to a person who enters the mosque and prays the obligatory prayer, for it suffices him from the greeting of the mosque.

The questioner : May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, this is a questioner who says: A man.

The Shaykh : Well, let us stay with you until you agree with me for the midday prayer, if Allah wills. Yes.

The presenter : May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh