Fasting Six Days of Shawwal

Among the most rewarded voluntary fasts in Islam is the fasting of six days during the month of Shawwal, the month immediately following Ramadan. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year" (Sahih Muslim). This hadith, narrated by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, establishes a profound reward: the combination of Ramadan (30 days) and six days of Shawwal (6 days) equals 36 fasting days, and since each good deed is multiplied by ten, this equals 360 days of fasting, covering the entire lunar year.

Scholarly Opinions on Its Status

The Shafi'i, Hanbali, and Hanafi schools agree that fasting six days of Shawwal is recommended (mustahabb). Imam al-Nawawi, Imam Ibn Qudamah, and many Hanafi scholars affirmed this practice based on the hadith in Sahih Muslim. The Maliki school has a unique position: Imam Malik himself disliked the practice, fearing that common people might mistakenly believe it to be obligatory and thus add to the established obligations. However, later Maliki scholars such as al-Qurtubi and Ibn Abdil-Barr considered it recommended, arguing that Malik's caution was specific to his time and place and that the hadith evidence is clear.

When and How to Fast Them

The six days can be fasted consecutively or spread throughout Shawwal, according to the majority of scholars. It is permissible to begin on the 2nd of Shawwal (the day after Eid, since fasting on Eid day is prohibited) and fast six consecutive days, or to spread them across the month, such as every Monday and Thursday. Some scholars recommend fasting them consecutively soon after Eid to hasten the reward and avoid procrastination. A person who has makeup (qada) fasts from Ramadan should prioritize those first according to some scholars, while others permit fasting the six days of Shawwal first if time permits making up Ramadan fasts later.

The Wisdom

Scholars note several wisdoms behind this practice. First, voluntary worship after an obligatory act serves to compensate for any deficiencies in the obligatory worship. Second, returning to voluntary fasting immediately after Ramadan demonstrates that the servant worships Allah at all times, not only in Ramadan. Third, it helps maintain the spiritual discipline cultivated during Ramadan. The willingness to fast voluntarily after an entire month of obligatory fasting is a sign of acceptance of one's Ramadan worship, as scholars say: "One of the signs that a good deed is accepted is that it is followed by another good deed."