The Ruling on One Who Fasts 'Aashura' or 'Arafah While Owning a Make-Up Fast
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Honorable Shaykh! What is your opinion regarding a person who owes a make-up fast, and the Day of 'Arafah or the Day of 'Aashura' arrives, and he wants to fast that day and postpone the make-up fast?
We see that there is nothing wrong with a person fasting the Day of 'Arafah or the Day of 'Aashura' while he owes a make-up fast; because the time for making up the fast is extended until there remains in Sha'ban an amount equal to the number of days he owes. However, we prefer that he start with the make-up fast and fast the Day of 'Arafah with the intention of making up the fast. Perhaps, if he fasts it with the intention of making up the fast, he will obtain two rewards: the reward of fasting the Day of 'Arafah and the reward of making up the fast. As for fasting the six days of Shawwal, one does not attain its reward unless he has completed the fasting of Ramadan, because the six days are attached to Ramadan;As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family said: (Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year) .
We see that there is nothing wrong with a person fasting the Day of 'Arafah or the Day of 'Aashura' while he owes a make-up fast; because the time for making up the fast is extended until there remains in Sha'ban an amount equal to the number of days he owes. However, we prefer that he start with the make-up fast and fast the Day of 'Arafah with the intention of making up the fast. Perhaps, if he fasts it with the intention of making up the fast, he will obtain two rewards: the reward of fasting the Day of 'Arafah and the reward of making up the fast. As for fasting the six days of Shawwal, one does not attain its reward unless he has completed the fasting of Ramadan, because the six days are attached to Ramadan;As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family said: (Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year) .