What is the grade of the hadith: (Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal...)?
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The questioner : He says, what is the grade of the hadith
The Shaykh : This is one of the authentic hadiths that Imam Muslim included in his Sahih. It is among the rulings on which the jurists nearly reached consensus, but unfortunately, they did not. Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that he disliked fasting the six days of Shawwal. The majority of scholars argued against him using this hadith, which is undoubtedly a decisive proof. However, some scholars reported a reason from Imam Malik for his position of disliking the fasting of these six days: he feared that people would believe it was obligatory, especially since it is connected to Ramadan, and the only thing separating it from the fasting of Ramadan is the day of Eid. Out of concern that some people might assume the fasting of these six days is obligatory, Imam Malik forbade or disliked fasting them. The meaning of what these scholars attributed to Malik is that Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) did not deny the original legitimacy of these six days; rather, he agreed with the majority of scholars who held that it is recommended. However, he disliked persisting in it, meaning that everyone who fasts Ramadan would fast the six days of Shawwal, so that over time, even if distant, the fasting of the six days would appear to be a completion of the fasting of Ramadan. This is what Malik feared, so he held the view of dislike. There is no doubt that his statement has merit in terms of the principles of jurisprudence. Some of the Hanafis held a similar view, such as the custom of the imam reciting Surat al-Sajdah and Surat al-Dahr in every Friday Fajr prayer. The Hanafi jurists stated that the imam should occasionally leave out the recitation of these two surahs so that the common people do not think that reciting these two surahs is among the obligations, or even the pillars, of the Friday Fajr prayer. In reality, as we said, this is knowledge that few people notice. If there is an atmosphere in some Islamic countries where it is feared, or where the fear has actually occurred, that some common people assume fasting six days of Shawwal is obligatory, then it is obligatory for some scholars not to adhere to it, while alerting people in their sermons, admonitions, and lessons that this fasting is not among the obligatory matters, but rather among the recommended matters.
Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will go out as if he were born by his mother.
من صام رمضان و أتبعه ستا من شوال خرج كما ولدته أمهThe Shaykh : This is one of the authentic hadiths that Imam Muslim included in his Sahih. It is among the rulings on which the jurists nearly reached consensus, but unfortunately, they did not. Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that he disliked fasting the six days of Shawwal. The majority of scholars argued against him using this hadith, which is undoubtedly a decisive proof. However, some scholars reported a reason from Imam Malik for his position of disliking the fasting of these six days: he feared that people would believe it was obligatory, especially since it is connected to Ramadan, and the only thing separating it from the fasting of Ramadan is the day of Eid. Out of concern that some people might assume the fasting of these six days is obligatory, Imam Malik forbade or disliked fasting them. The meaning of what these scholars attributed to Malik is that Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) did not deny the original legitimacy of these six days; rather, he agreed with the majority of scholars who held that it is recommended. However, he disliked persisting in it, meaning that everyone who fasts Ramadan would fast the six days of Shawwal, so that over time, even if distant, the fasting of the six days would appear to be a completion of the fasting of Ramadan. This is what Malik feared, so he held the view of dislike. There is no doubt that his statement has merit in terms of the principles of jurisprudence. Some of the Hanafis held a similar view, such as the custom of the imam reciting Surat al-Sajdah and Surat al-Dahr in every Friday Fajr prayer. The Hanafi jurists stated that the imam should occasionally leave out the recitation of these two surahs so that the common people do not think that reciting these two surahs is among the obligations, or even the pillars, of the Friday Fajr prayer. In reality, as we said, this is knowledge that few people notice. If there is an atmosphere in some Islamic countries where it is feared, or where the fear has actually occurred, that some common people assume fasting six days of Shawwal is obligatory, then it is obligatory for some scholars not to adhere to it, while alerting people in their sermons, admonitions, and lessons that this fasting is not among the obligatory matters, but rather among the recommended matters.