Is it permissible to choose any six days in Shawwal to fast?

Question: Is it permissible to choose to fast six days in the month of Shawwal, or is there a specific time for fasting these days? And if he fasts them, do they become obligatory upon him?

Answer: It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Imam Muslim recorded it in his Sahih. These days are not fixed within the month; rather, the believer chooses them from the entire month. If he wishes, he may fast them at the beginning of the month, in the middle, or at the end. If he wishes, he may separate them, and if he wishes, he may fast them consecutively. The matter is broad, praise be to Allah. If he hastens to them and fasts them consecutively at the beginning of the month, that is better, because that falls under the category of hastening to good. They do not become obligatory upon him by doing so; rather, it is permissible for him to leave them off in any year. However, continuing to fast them is the best and most complete, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): And Allah grants success.