Is there a virtue in fasting the six days of Shawwal, and are these six days to be scattered or consecutive?
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The questioner : The first question says: Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : O honorable Shaykh, is there a virtue in fasting the six days of Shawwal, and are these six days to be scattered or consecutive?
The Shaykh : Or?
The questioner : Consecutive, please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, fasting the six days of Shawwal has a virtue established by the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1164a meaning it is like fasting a whole year.
But we must be aware that fasting these six days does not yield this reward unless the entire month of Ramadan has ended. Accordingly, if a person has missed days of Ramadan to make up and fasts these six days before making them up, he does not obtain this reward, whether we say that voluntary fasting before making up Ramadan is valid or not. Because if we say that voluntary fasting before making up Ramadan is not valid, the matter is clear, is it not?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : If we say, some scholars say that if a person who has missed days of Ramadan fasts voluntarily, whether the six days, the Day of 'Arafah, Ashura, Monday, or Thursday, this voluntary fast is not valid. But some scholars say that voluntary fasting before making up the missed days is valid, because the time for making up is extended, so a person may delay making up until there remains in Sha'ban an amount equal to what he owes. However, the six days cannot yield their reward for one who fasts them before making up Ramadan. Why?
Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1716Sahih (Darussalam) And is it said of the one who has missed days of Ramadan that he fasted Ramadan? Rather, it is said he fasted part of Ramadan.
And this issue is difficult for many people; they think it is based on the validity of voluntary fasting before making up Ramadan or its invalidity. But that is not the case, because the text in this matter is explicit, and it is that the six days are to be after Ramadan.
And as for the sayingThe questioner : Must they be consecutive, or is it permissible for them to be scattered?
So we say: Yes, it is permissible for them to be scattered and consecutive, but consecutiveness is better because it involves hastening to good. And because a person may delay, thinking he will fast, then negligence continues with him little by little until Shawwal ends and he has not fasted them. So hastening with them is better, and their being consecutive is better than their being scattered.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : O honorable Shaykh, is there a virtue in fasting the six days of Shawwal, and are these six days to be scattered or consecutive?
The Shaykh : Or?
The questioner : Consecutive, please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, fasting the six days of Shawwal has a virtue established by the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
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 ستا من شوال كان كصيام الدهرBut we must be aware that fasting these six days does not yield this reward unless the entire month of Ramadan has ended. Accordingly, if a person has missed days of Ramadan to make up and fasts these six days before making them up, he does not obtain this reward, whether we say that voluntary fasting before making up Ramadan is valid or not. Because if we say that voluntary fasting before making up Ramadan is not valid, the matter is clear, is it not?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : If we say, some scholars say that if a person who has missed days of Ramadan fasts voluntarily, whether the six days, the Day of 'Arafah, Ashura, Monday, or Thursday, this voluntary fast is not valid. But some scholars say that voluntary fasting before making up the missed days is valid, because the time for making up is extended, so a person may delay making up until there remains in Sha'ban an amount equal to what he owes. However, the six days cannot yield their reward for one who fasts them before making up Ramadan. Why?
Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it
من صام رمضان ثم أتبعهAnd this issue is difficult for many people; they think it is based on the validity of voluntary fasting before making up Ramadan or its invalidity. But that is not the case, because the text in this matter is explicit, and it is that the six days are to be after Ramadan.
And as for the sayingThe questioner : Must they be consecutive, or is it permissible for them to be scattered?
So we say: Yes, it is permissible for them to be scattered and consecutive, but consecutiveness is better because it involves hastening to good. And because a person may delay, thinking he will fast, then negligence continues with him little by little until Shawwal ends and he has not fasted them. So hastening with them is better, and their being consecutive is better than their being scattered.