Fasting Six Days of Shawwal After Ramadan: 'Like Fasting The Entire Year'

[Shamim Ansary]

[from: Hanafi Fiqh List: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/hanafi]

In the name of Allah, the inspirer of truth.

All praise is to Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate, and all
blessings and peace to our Master Muhammad, his family, companions, and those who follow them.


Ayyub (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, "Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days from Shawwal it is as if they fasted the entire year." [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah; Ahmad transmitted it from Jabir, Muntaqa]


Thawban (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, "Whoever fasts Ramadan, and then six days after Eid, it is [like fasting] an entire year. Whoever does a good deed shall have ten times its reward." [Ibn Majah, Muntaqa]


1. Based on this, the majority of the fuqaha, including the Hanafi,
Shafi`i, and Hanbali school, have held that it is recommended to fast six days of the month of Shawwal. [Radd al-Muhtar; Mughni al-Muhtaj Shah al-Minhaj; Kashshaf al-Qina`]


2. It is permitted to fast these six days separately throughout the
month, or consecutively, after Eid al-Fitr. [ibid.]


3. It is prohibitively disliked (makruh tahriman) and sinful to fast on Eid day itself. [Radd al-Muhtar]


4. The Shafi`is and Hanbalis state that it is superior to make the six fasts consecutive [Minhaj, Ghayat al-Muntaha]. Khatib al-Shirbini explains the reasoning as being, "In order to hasten to do the good, and because of the problems inevitable in delaying," such as becoming lazy and not actually fulfilling this sunna in the end, though he points out that the sunna is fulfilled by both consecutive and non-consecutive fasting of six days in Shawwal. [Mughni al-Muhtaj]


The later Hanafi scholars differed as to which is better, fasting the
six days consecutively or non-consecutively, though neither is disliked and both fulfill the sunna. [Radd al-Muhtar] However, it would be agreed that those who fear not fulfilling the recommendation due to laziness, forgetfulness or other excuses, should hasten to fast the six days consecutively immediately after Eid al-Fitr.


5. The reward is akin to having fasted obligatory fasts the entire year days, according to Buhuti, Shirbini, and others.


Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said,

"The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, though there is good in both. Be avid for that which benefits you. Rely on Allah and do not deem yourself incapable." [Muslim 4816, Ibn Majah 76, Ahmad 8436]


Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) explained that the 'strength' in this hadith refers to, "One's determination and ability in matters of the next life." [Sharh Sahih Muslim]

And Allah alone gives success.

[ref: Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar `ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar 2.125 Bulaq ed.; Khatib al-Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj Sharh al-Minhaj 2.184-185; Buhuti, Kashshaf al-Qina` 2.237-238]

[Shamim Ansary]

The Prophet Muhammad is said to have observed fasting on special days and recommended that his followers do the same. Among these special days are the six days of the month of Shawwal, the first 10 days of Zhul-Hijjah and the month of Muharram.

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a close companion of the Prophet, reported him as saying: “Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will be rewarded as if he had fasted the entire year.” Muhammad ibn İsmail as-San'aanee said: “It should be noted that the reward for fasting [the six days of Shawwal] will be given to whoever fasts them, whether separately or continually, immediately after Eid or during the month.”

According to As-San'aanee, if the 30 days of Ramadan fasting are added to the six days of fasting during Shawwal, it amounts to 36 days. Each virtue is rewarded 10 times according to Shariah, which means a believer who fasts these 36 days will be considered to have fasted for 360 days, which almost equals the days of a year.

It is highly recommended to fast six days of the month of Shawwal, as this is a meritorious act which results in abundant reward. While some scholars are of the opinion that these six days of fasting must be completed in a continuous order right after the end of Ramadan, many others say it is not required to fast six days continuously without any interruption. According to the second group, one can fast in accordance with convenience any time during the month.

Commenting on the blessing of fasting during Shawwal, Marmara University Professor Emeritus Saim Yeprem said those who fast for six days during this month after a complete fast in Ramadan are as if they have spent the whole year in complete fast. Yeprem also said Shawwal fasts don't have to be completed consecutively.

Stating that the Prophet Muhammad, who observed fasting during Shawwal, recommended that his followers do the same, Yeprem said it is continuing fasting after Ramadan that helps believers bedeck the rest of the year with blessings of Ramadan.

“After a month of intensive worship, in which people perform extra prayers, read the Quran, purify their behaviors engaging in charity and good deeds, it is not appropriate to abruptly give them up after the fasting month of Ramadan,” Yeprem said referring to a hadith which reads “The dearest of actions to Allah is that which is done regularly, even if it is small.”

Any good deed which is done continuously will also have an everlasting reward, Yeprem said and called on believers to continue to perform good deeds.

“The act of fasting redirects the heart from worldly activities and cleanses the nefis [inner soul] and induces a feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice and sympathy for those less fortunate,” Yeprem said, adding that fasting provides worshippers the opportunity to review their lives in light of Islamic teachings and refocus their attention on Allah.

Source: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-289688-believers-recommended-to-observe-shawwal-fast-after-ramadan.html

[Shamim Ansary]

Hazrat Abu Ayyub (RA) relates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days from Shawwal it is as if they fasted the entire year.

[Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah]


According to Sayyiduna Thawban (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) also said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan, and then six days after Eid, it is an entire year. Whoever does a good deed shall have ten times its reward.”

[Ibn Majah, Muntaqa]


Hazrat ‘Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Rasoolullaah(PBUH) said, The one who observe the rozas of the month of Ramadan entirely and the six nafils of the month of Shawwaal, will have his sins erased as if he just took birth.

[Tibrani]


Other Considerations that Prove the Importance of Shawal: Other important considerations that may help individuals understand the importance of the six days that follow Ramadan and Eid are given below.

1. According to most fuqaha, it is best to fast for six consecutive days of Shawal. This has been recommended by Hanafi, Shafi and the Hanbali School.

2. Muslims are permitted to fast separately or consecutively during the month of Shawal, but necessarily before the end of Shawal.

3. It is also suggested to fast during this month as it allows the individuals to make up for any shortfall in the mandatory fasts of the month of Ramadan. Therefore, those who have missed even one of the mandatory fast of the month of Ramadan should fast during Shawal as it holds high value.