This excerpt is taken from the book of Fadhilat al-Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani, may Allah have mercy on him, Ahkam and Masail of Ramadan.
The Virtue of Six Days of Shawwal:.
Question:.
Is it necessary to fast six days in Shawwal, and is the reward of the fasts of Ramadan incomplete without these fasts?
Fatwa:.
Fasting six days in Shawwal is a blessed Sunnah, and several Hadiths have been reported regarding this, such as the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him):
من صام رمضان ثم أتبعه ستا من شوال كان كصيام الدهر
"Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then fasts six days of Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted for a lifetime."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter on the recommendation of fasting six days of Shawwal, Hadith: 1164)
Therefore, the majority of scholars have deemed it recommended (meritorious), and no one has declared this act obligatory; rather, it is a Sunnah. Thus, whoever seeks merit should observe these fasts, and whoever wishes may also skip them. It is also permissible to fast one year and skip the next, and not observing them does not affect the reward of the Ramadan fasts. These fasts of Shawwal can be observed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the month.
