Seasons of Fasting After Ramadan
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It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: (When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that benefits people, or a righteous child who prays for him) So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not make the cessation of deeds occur except by death. Let us look at whether these days have functions that the servant performs to draw near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic)?We say: Yes.
For example: The month of fasting has ended. Has fasting ended? Fasting is still prescribed—praise be to Allah—at all times. Its highest and most excellent form is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) guided to, which is for a person to fast one day and break the fast the next. This is the fasting of Dawud. Next in rank is what is more frequent, and among this is the fasting of the six days of Shawwal.The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding it: (Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal is like fasting the entire year).
The virtue of these days is not attained unless a person completes Ramadan in full. Accordingly, if a person has missed days to make up and fasts these six days before making them up, he will not receive the reward that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned and linked to the completion of Ramadan: (Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it).
This is clarified by example: If a person has five days of Ramadan to make up, and he delays making them up and fasts the six days before them,So is it said: Did he fast Ramadan? No,It is said: He fasted twenty-five days of Ramadan. It is necessary to fast Ramadan in full to receive its reward. This is not based on the disagreement among the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) regarding the permissibility of voluntary fasting before making up missed days. Rather, this is an independent issue based on the ruling of the Messenger (may the prayer and peace of Allah be upon him), namely that fasting six days of Shawwal is like the regular voluntary prayers (rawatib) that come after the obligatory prayer.
As for voluntary fasting other than the six days before making up missed days, this is a matter of dispute among the scholars. Some of them permitted it,And some of them said: while others said it is not permissible to fast voluntarily until the obligatory is performed. This is the most cautious and preferable course for a person, and more deserving of action; because it is not good to start with the voluntary and leave the obligatory. The obligatory is more important, for if you die, it remains a debt in your liability. But the voluntary, if you do it, it is good, and if you do not do it, there is no sin on you and no blame.
And among that also, namely: Among the prescribed fasting is for a person to fast three days every month, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the month. However, it is better that they be the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days.
And among them: It is recommended for a person to fast Mondays and Thursdays, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast them and said: (They are two days on which deeds are presented to Allah, so I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting).
And among them: Fasting the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the Day of 'Arafah, for one who is not performing Hajj,For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (I hope in Allah that He will expiate the year before it and the year after it).
And likewise: Fasting the remaining ten days from the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah to the ninth day, for fasting in them has a distinction over other days,The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days) and fasting is undoubtedly a righteous deed.
And among what should be fasted: Fasting the tenth of Muharram and the ninth with it, or the eleventh, or all three: the ninth, tenth, and eleventh, or fasting most of the month of Muharram.
And among the prescribed fasting also: Fasting Sha'ban, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast it entirely or fast it except for a little of it, as is established from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).
For example: The month of fasting has ended. Has fasting ended? Fasting is still prescribed—praise be to Allah—at all times. Its highest and most excellent form is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) guided to, which is for a person to fast one day and break the fast the next. This is the fasting of Dawud. Next in rank is what is more frequent, and among this is the fasting of the six days of Shawwal.The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding it: (Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal is like fasting the entire year).
The virtue of these days is not attained unless a person completes Ramadan in full. Accordingly, if a person has missed days to make up and fasts these six days before making them up, he will not receive the reward that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned and linked to the completion of Ramadan: (Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it).
This is clarified by example: If a person has five days of Ramadan to make up, and he delays making them up and fasts the six days before them,So is it said: Did he fast Ramadan? No,It is said: He fasted twenty-five days of Ramadan. It is necessary to fast Ramadan in full to receive its reward. This is not based on the disagreement among the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) regarding the permissibility of voluntary fasting before making up missed days. Rather, this is an independent issue based on the ruling of the Messenger (may the prayer and peace of Allah be upon him), namely that fasting six days of Shawwal is like the regular voluntary prayers (rawatib) that come after the obligatory prayer.
As for voluntary fasting other than the six days before making up missed days, this is a matter of dispute among the scholars. Some of them permitted it,And some of them said: while others said it is not permissible to fast voluntarily until the obligatory is performed. This is the most cautious and preferable course for a person, and more deserving of action; because it is not good to start with the voluntary and leave the obligatory. The obligatory is more important, for if you die, it remains a debt in your liability. But the voluntary, if you do it, it is good, and if you do not do it, there is no sin on you and no blame.
And among that also, namely: Among the prescribed fasting is for a person to fast three days every month, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the month. However, it is better that they be the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days.
And among them: It is recommended for a person to fast Mondays and Thursdays, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast them and said: (They are two days on which deeds are presented to Allah, so I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting).
And among them: Fasting the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the Day of 'Arafah, for one who is not performing Hajj,For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (I hope in Allah that He will expiate the year before it and the year after it).
And likewise: Fasting the remaining ten days from the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah to the ninth day, for fasting in them has a distinction over other days,The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days) and fasting is undoubtedly a righteous deed.
And among what should be fasted: Fasting the tenth of Muharram and the ninth with it, or the eleventh, or all three: the ninth, tenth, and eleventh, or fasting most of the month of Muharram.
And among the prescribed fasting also: Fasting Sha'ban, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast it entirely or fast it except for a little of it, as is established from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).