✒ Written by: Naseer Ahmad Kashif, Monthly al-Hadith Hazro
For example, the regular observance of adhkar after salah and the maintenance of sunan and nawafil alongside obligatory prayers highlight this continuity. The encouragement of sadaqah al-fitr and general charity reflects the continuation of the obligatory zakat.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"تابعوا بين الحج والعمرة"
“Follow up Hajj with ‘Umrah…”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Hajj, Hadith 810 – Chain is Hasan)
This reflects the continuous nature of Hajj and ‘Umrah as acts of devotion.
Likewise, after a full month of fasting in Ramadan, the believer is encouraged not to stop but to pursue voluntary fasting, thereby earning more reward.
"Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime."
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Hadith 1164)
In al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Nasa’i, the wording is:
"Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year."
(al-Sunan al-Kubra: 2878, and in another version: 2865)
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 3/298)
Imam Malik رحمه الله disliked fasting immediately after Eid. Imam Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr clarified in al-Istidhkar (3/379–380) that this was to maintain a gap between Ramadan and the voluntary fasts.
"There is no harm in fasting them. The Prophet ﷺ said six days of Shawwal, so whenever one fasts six days in Shawwal, it does not matter whether they are consecutive or spaced out."
(Masā’il al-Imām Ahmad by his son ‘Abdullah 2/662, Hadith 895)
This shows there is leeway, and the fasts may be observed at any time during the month of Shawwal.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ The Significance of Six Fasts in Shawwal
The sole purpose of human creation is the worship and servitude of Allah ﷻ. Accordingly, various acts of worship have been ordained, whether daily or annual, with a central emphasis on consistency.For example, the regular observance of adhkar after salah and the maintenance of sunan and nawafil alongside obligatory prayers highlight this continuity. The encouragement of sadaqah al-fitr and general charity reflects the continuation of the obligatory zakat.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"تابعوا بين الحج والعمرة"
“Follow up Hajj with ‘Umrah…”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Hajj, Hadith 810 – Chain is Hasan)
This reflects the continuous nature of Hajj and ‘Umrah as acts of devotion.
Likewise, after a full month of fasting in Ramadan, the believer is encouraged not to stop but to pursue voluntary fasting, thereby earning more reward.
❖ The Main Hadith on the Fasts of Shawwal
Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:"Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime."
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Hadith 1164)
In al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Nasa’i, the wording is:
"Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year."
(al-Sunan al-Kubra: 2878, and in another version: 2865)
❖ The Reason for the Reward
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله explained that since one good deed is multiplied by ten, fasting the month of Ramadan (30 days) equals 300 days, and six days of Shawwal add another 60 days — totaling the reward of 360 days, which equals a full year.(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 3/298)
❖ When and How to Observe the Fasts
There is flexibility in observing these six fasts:- One may fast at the beginning, middle, or end of Shawwal.
- It is preferable not to fast them immediately after Eid in succession, but rather leave a few days in between.
Imam Malik رحمه الله disliked fasting immediately after Eid. Imam Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr clarified in al-Istidhkar (3/379–380) that this was to maintain a gap between Ramadan and the voluntary fasts.
❖ Statement of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله
When his son ‘Abdullah asked him about these fasts, Imam Ahmad replied:"There is no harm in fasting them. The Prophet ﷺ said six days of Shawwal, so whenever one fasts six days in Shawwal, it does not matter whether they are consecutive or spaced out."
(Masā’il al-Imām Ahmad by his son ‘Abdullah 2/662, Hadith 895)
This shows there is leeway, and the fasts may be observed at any time during the month of Shawwal.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
