Is it permissible for me to fast the six days of Shawwal and the day of 'Ashura, intending them as making up for some of the days of Ramadan?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for me to fast the six days of Shawwal or the day of 'Ashura, intending them as making up for some of the days of Ramadan?
The Shaykh : As for fasting the six days, it is not valid to make them as making up for Ramadan, because the days of the six are attached to Ramadan; they are in the position of the regular voluntary prayers attached to the obligatory prayer, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1164a.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made these days in this hadith attached to the month of Ramadan and following it. And whatever is attached to a thing, the thing does not suffice for it. Then, it is frequent that people ask about advancing these six days before making up for Ramadan for those who have a debt from Ramadan. The answer to that is:
That this does not benefit, meaning that advancing the six days before making up for Ramadan does not result in the reward that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) established for fasting them after Ramadan. Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: And whoever has a debt of making up, it is not true to say that he has fasted Ramadan. Rather, it is necessary to fast the entire month, both as performance and as making up, and then after that, he fasts these six days.
And as for if one intends by fasting the day of 'Ashura that it is for making up, then we hope that the making up and the reward of that day will be obtained, because the apparent intention is that he fasts that day. Likewise, if he fasts the day of 'Arafah as making up for Ramadan, then we hope that he will obtain both matters. Likewise, if he fasts the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth of the month, which are the white days, and intends them as making up for Ramadan, then we hope that he will obtain the reward of both matters. Likewise, if he fasts Thursday and Monday as making up for Ramadan, then we hope that he will obtain the reward of making up and the reward of fasting these two days, because the intention is that these days be fasting for the person.
The Shaykh : As for fasting the six days, it is not valid to make them as making up for Ramadan, because the days of the six are attached to Ramadan; they are in the position of the regular voluntary prayers attached to the obligatory prayer, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually.
من صام رمضان ثم أتبعه ستاً من شوال كان كصيام الدهرThe Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made these days in this hadith attached to the month of Ramadan and following it. And whatever is attached to a thing, the thing does not suffice for it. Then, it is frequent that people ask about advancing these six days before making up for Ramadan for those who have a debt from Ramadan. The answer to that is:
That this does not benefit, meaning that advancing the six days before making up for Ramadan does not result in the reward that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) established for fasting them after Ramadan. Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says:
Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal
من صام رمضان ثم أتبه ستاً من شوالAnd as for if one intends by fasting the day of 'Ashura that it is for making up, then we hope that the making up and the reward of that day will be obtained, because the apparent intention is that he fasts that day. Likewise, if he fasts the day of 'Arafah as making up for Ramadan, then we hope that he will obtain both matters. Likewise, if he fasts the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth of the month, which are the white days, and intends them as making up for Ramadan, then we hope that he will obtain the reward of both matters. Likewise, if he fasts Thursday and Monday as making up for Ramadan, then we hope that he will obtain the reward of making up and the reward of fasting these two days, because the intention is that these days be fasting for the person.