The ruling on fasting voluntary fasts before making up fasts from Ramadan
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Question:
Is it prescribed to prioritize voluntary fasting over making up missed fasts, such as fasting six days of Shawwal and then making up the missed days? And is the report attributed to Aisha, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), regarding her delaying the making up of fasts until Sha'ban, authentic or not? Please issue a ruling for us, may you be rewarded, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
There is scholarly disagreement among the scholars regarding these issues, and the stronger view is that one should begin with making up the missed fasts; based on his statement (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1164a. If one has not fasted part of Ramadan, how can he follow it with six days of Shawwal? He must complete it first, complete Ramadan, and the woman must complete what she missed from Ramadan, then she should fast if she is able to do so, otherwise there is no blame on her, and praise be to Allah.
Some scholars said: He should begin with the recommended practices (sunnah); because their time is limited and may be missed, whereas the time for making up fasts is ample, so there is no objection to beginning with the six days, or fasting Mondays and Thursdays, or fasting the Day of 'Arafah, or the Day of Ashura, and the time for making up fasts is ample. This view has merit and has a share of consideration, but the first view is more apparent and clearer; because the obligatory is more important; and because a person may be afflicted with death or illnesses, so he should begin with the most important, which is making up the fasts, and then if it becomes easy for him after this, he should volunteer to fast after that with what Allah makes easy.
As for the report of Aisha, it is a sound hadith from her (may Allah be pleased with her) in the two Sahihs, that she said: "I used to have fasts upon me from Ramadan, and I was not able to make them up except in Sha'ban because of the position of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." So do not assume that she fasted the voluntary fasts and delayed the obligatory ones as long as she was breaking her fast for the sake of the Messenger of Allah's (peace and blessings be upon him) need for his household, so her breaking the voluntary fasts is even more so.
The conclusion: There is no evidence in her action that she used to fast the voluntary fasts, she did not say: I used to fast the voluntary fasts, rather she said: that she delayed the fasting of Ramadan because of the position of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so it does not indicate that he (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted her to do so, or granted her a dispensation in that, no, rather it is a clear indication that she delayed it out of consideration for the Messenger's need for her - (peace and blessings be upon him) - yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. It is as if I see you, Your Eminence the Shaykh, saying: That Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) did not fast the six days of Shawwal during the life of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : Nor any other of the voluntary fasts, and she had to make up the fasts, so it appears: that she delayed the making up of fasts and also the non-making up of fasts, yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Is it prescribed to prioritize voluntary fasting over making up missed fasts, such as fasting six days of Shawwal and then making up the missed days? And is the report attributed to Aisha, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), regarding her delaying the making up of fasts until Sha'ban, authentic or not? Please issue a ruling for us, may you be rewarded, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
There is scholarly disagreement among the scholars regarding these issues, and the stronger view is that one should begin with making up the missed fasts; based on his statement (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 ستًا من شوال كان كصيام الدهرSome scholars said: He should begin with the recommended practices (sunnah); because their time is limited and may be missed, whereas the time for making up fasts is ample, so there is no objection to beginning with the six days, or fasting Mondays and Thursdays, or fasting the Day of 'Arafah, or the Day of Ashura, and the time for making up fasts is ample. This view has merit and has a share of consideration, but the first view is more apparent and clearer; because the obligatory is more important; and because a person may be afflicted with death or illnesses, so he should begin with the most important, which is making up the fasts, and then if it becomes easy for him after this, he should volunteer to fast after that with what Allah makes easy.
As for the report of Aisha, it is a sound hadith from her (may Allah be pleased with her) in the two Sahihs, that she said: "I used to have fasts upon me from Ramadan, and I was not able to make them up except in Sha'ban because of the position of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." So do not assume that she fasted the voluntary fasts and delayed the obligatory ones as long as she was breaking her fast for the sake of the Messenger of Allah's (peace and blessings be upon him) need for his household, so her breaking the voluntary fasts is even more so.
The conclusion: There is no evidence in her action that she used to fast the voluntary fasts, she did not say: I used to fast the voluntary fasts, rather she said: that she delayed the fasting of Ramadan because of the position of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so it does not indicate that he (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted her to do so, or granted her a dispensation in that, no, rather it is a clear indication that she delayed it out of consideration for the Messenger's need for her - (peace and blessings be upon him) - yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good. It is as if I see you, Your Eminence the Shaykh, saying: That Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) did not fast the six days of Shawwal during the life of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : Nor any other of the voluntary fasts, and she had to make up the fasts, so it appears: that she delayed the making up of fasts and also the non-making up of fasts, yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.