The Six Days Fast of Shawwal

THE FIQH RULING

In Islam, it is recommended to fast for six days within the month of Shawwal.

The best way and most virtuous way to do this is by fasting the six days consecutively, immediately following the Eid of Eid-ul-Fitr. That means, one should start his/her fast on 2nd Shawwal.

Although it is permissible to fast the six days later as well as non-consecutively in Shawwal, it is important to understand that:

1. performing this fast consecutively - one after another - until completed; and

2. performing this fast immediately after Eid (i.e. starting 2nd Shawwal)

- are two separate Sunnahs.

The grand scholar, Khatib al-Shirbini RH explains the reasoning for this 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 Sunnah in the end, though he points out that the Sunnah is fulfilled by both consecutive and non-consecutive fasting of six days in Shawwal. (Mughni Al-Muhtaj)

With regards to the evidences for the Six Days Fast of Shawwal from the Ahadith of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, these are as follows:

EVIDENCE 1

Ayyub RA relates that the Rasulullah SAW said:

"Whoever fasts Ramadhan 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)


EVIDENCE 2

Thawban RA relates that Rasulullah SAW said:

"Whomsoever fasts Ramadhan, 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)


EVIDENCE 3

In another Hadith, the rendition is as follows:

The Prophet Muhammad SAW is reported to have said:

"Whoever fasts Ramadhan, then follows it with six from Shawwal, it is as though he fasted all of time."

All of time here basically implies the whole year, for if one did this every year, it would be all of time.

In further elaborating on this, it is mentioned in Nuzhat-Al-Mutaqin, the commentary of Imam Nawawi's Riyadh-us-Salihin (2/132) that:

"Whoever fasts Ramadhan and follows it up with six (days) from Shawwal, it is as though he has fasted all of time, because each day is equivalent to ten days."

(This is supported by the Hadith:)

"Whoever performs a good deed, he will have ten like it."

Hence, the holy month of Ramadhan would count as ten months; whereas the six days fast multiplied by ten would equal two months. Both added together will make - one whole year.

It is then explained:

"It is best that one fast the six altogether and directly after the day of Eid."

According to the above, our understanding is that the reward of one's fasting is according to how much one fasts. Should Allah accepts our fasts, and then counts each day of fast as equivalent to ten, it will be considered as such, from Allah's Limitless Mercy. Due to the fact that a Hadith has not come to us about fasting less than six days in Shawwal, one can assume that his worship (in attaining the virtue of one year fast) would not be complete unless he/she performed the full number.


STRIVING FOR SUPREMACY IN IBADAH

With regards to striving to do what is most superior and virtuous, the evidence may be rendered as follows:

Abu Hurairah RA narrates that the Prophet Muhammad SAW 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: Hadith 4816, Ibn Majah: Hadith 76, Ahmad: Hadith 8436)

Thus - the core advice of my spiritual mentors when it comes to Deen in its learning, practices and propagation:

"Be Hard On Yourself, Be Easy On Others..."


Imam Nawawi RH explained that the 'strength' in the above Hadith refers to:

"...one’s determination and ability in matters of the next life." (Sharh Sahih Muslim)

Piety & Humour of A Sahabi RA

Abu Hurairah RA reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and said:

"I am destroyed, O Messenger of Allah!"

The Prophet (SAW) asked:

"What has destroyed you?"

He said:

"I had intercourse with my wife during a day of Ramadhan."

The Prophet (SAW) asked:

"Are you able to free a slave?"

He said:

"No."

The Prophet (SAW) asked:

"Is it possible for you to fast for two consecutive months?"

He said:

"No."

The Prophet (SAW) asked:

"Is it possible for you to feed sixty poor people?"

He said:

"No."

The Prophet (SAW) said:

"Then sit."

A basket of dates was brought to the Prophet (SAW) and he said to the man:

"Give this in charity."

The man said:

"To someone poorer than us? There is no one in this city who is poorer than us!"

The Prophet (SAW) laughed until his molar teeth could be seen and said:

"Go and feed your family with it." (from Bukhari, Muslim & others)

Our Faults in Ramadhan

At this point we should ponder over our Ibadah.

How much importance do we attach to our Ibadah in Ramadhan?

How many Nawafil (optional) Solat do we perform?

As for Fardh (obligatory) deeds, we observe how numerous people who after having eaten Sahur get back into bed with the result that the Subuh Solat is neglected. Many perform Subuh Solat, but not with Jama'ah.

It gives the impression that we are giving thanks to Allah for the food we had eaten for Sahur by not performing the most important Fardh as how it should ber performed. Infact, such a Solat has been termed defective.

It has come to us that Rasulullah SAW has said:

"There is no Solat for those near the Masjid except in the Masjid."

Our Ulama have also helped to explain to us that there is actually no reward (spiritual benefit) for the Solat not performed with Jama'ah without any valid Shari'i excuse.

Similarly, in numerous cases at the time of Iftar (break-fast), Maghrib Solat is missed, and many who do come to the Masjid miss the Takbir at the beginning or miss the first raka'at. In some parts of the world, there are many people who hasten to get over the Tarawih Solat early and even perform the Isyak Solat before its actual time commences. Worse still, there are some who do not pay any attention to Solat - even in Ramadhan! May Allah SWT cure such hearts.

In this day and age, that is the way we see how we look after our very important Fardh Solat in the month of Ramadhan. Sometimes in the process of performing one Fardh, three others are destroyed. How often do we see even the time of Zuhr going by because we are asleep, while the time of Asar goes by because we are too busy buying, selling or cooking to prepare for Iftar.

If our menfolk are Jahil, we cannot expect our womenfolk to be suddenly enlightened from the sky. Males should be ever diligent in matters of Deen. That's what all true Muslim men should aspire to become and mantain. Nowadays, many men are not even ashamed to say that their wife is more Deen-oriented than themselves. Where is our dignity? How shall we face Rasulullah SAW on the Day of Judgement? Will he (SAW) be able to recognise us owing to our cowardice?

If such is the case with the Faraa'idh (obligatory injunctions), then we can imagine how much less importance is given to the Nawafil (optional) actions.

The fact is, one finds that because of sleeping after Subuh prayer, the time of Solat-ul-Dhuha goes by.

Then what about Solat-ulAwwabeen just after Maghrib Solat? Here we find shameless selves busy with Iftar, even to such an extent that after about an hour this Solat-ul-Tarawih too becomes wasted. Further we find that for Solat-ul-Tahajjud the time is the same as that for Sahur with the result that this too goes by.

We cannot deny that anyone may make a thousand excuses for not finding time for these specific avenues of worship. Yes, it is true that these indeed are all excuses for not performing these Solat.


An Excellent Example In Recent Times

Believe it or not, we may actually see that there are indeed many pious personalities who do find the time to do all these Ibadahs during these precious moments.

Sheikh Khalil Ahmad RA was a scholar who is one of the preservers of classical traditional Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah.

He was a weak sickly person and of advanced age but in spite of these drawbacks he used to read one and a quarter juz of the Qur'an in Nawafil Solat after Maghrib. Thereafter he used to have meals for about half an hour only. After performing all other necessities in preparation for Tarawih Solat he used to stand in Tarawih for about two and a half hours to three hours.

Thereafter he used to sleep about two or three hours only. Then he used to get up and again recite the Qur'an in Tahajjud Solat until about half an hour before Subuh. It was in that short period that he ate his Sahur. From that time until Subuh, he remained busy with reading the Qur'an or Wazifahs/Zikr.

After dawn set in, Sheikh Khalil Ahmad RA performed Subuh Solat with Jama'ah, and thereafter he remained in Muraqabah (meditation) until Ishraq. Having performed Solat-ul-Ishraq he used to write his famous kitab - "Basi-ul-Majhud" - which is a commentary on Sunan Abu Dawud.

After that, he normally attended to letters and dictated replies up to midday. Next he used to rest up to Zuhr Solat. Between Zuhr and Asar he used to recite the Qur'an.

From Asar until Maghrib he used to be busy with the recitation of Tasbih and answering the queries of those who visited him. Upon completion of "Bazi-ul-Majhud", then part of the morning used to be spent in Tilawat of the Qur'an and studying some religious works. This was his daily programme for Nawafil Ibadah throughout the year; but in Ramadhan, he used to spend a bit more time in his Ibadah, making the raka'ats longer.

Sheikh Khalil Ahmad RA was honoured to be granted a resting place in the graves of the Sahabah RA at Jannatul Baqi' beside Masjid Nabawi in Madinah. He was buried in the plot of land dedicated for the Ahlul Bayt - the family of Rasulullah SAW. Such was the end of his life.

Subhanallahi Wabihamdihi Subhanallahil Adheem.

Quick Hadith 056

HADITH 1

Abbas RA narrates that when Rasulullah SAW came to Madinah Munawwarah, he noticed the Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram. He enquired from them the reason for fasting. They (the Jews) replied: "This is a great day. Allah Ta'ala granted victory to Musa (AS) and his nation against Fir'aun and his army who were drowned in the sea. Musa (AS) fasted to express his gratefulness to Allah Ta'ala, so we too fast on this day". Rasulullah (SAW) said: "We are more closer to Musa (AS) than you." Thereafter, Rasulullah (SAW) fasted on the 10th of Muharram and he ordered his Sahabah (RA) to keep fast on that day. (Mishkaat: Qadeemi)


COMMENTARY

To understand the correct context and application of the above Hadith, it is necessary to know that, initially for Muslims - only fasting on the 10th of Muharram was obligatory. When Allah SWT revealed His Commandment and Fasting in Ramadhan became obligatory - then consequently, the fasting on the day of Aashura became Nawafil (voluntary). The scholars of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah have advised the Ummah that it is advisable to add one fast to the 10th of Muharram, thus either on the 11th or the 9th in order to contradict the practise of the Jews who fast only on the 10th. Nevertheless, doing so does not effect the validity of the fast on the 10th only. Let us start motivating our family members and friends to carry out this Sunnah of Rasulullah SAW. An act rarely known by the Ummah of today. May Allah SWT forgive us all.

Quick Hadith 115

Abu Hurairah RA reports that Rasulullah SAW said:

"When any of you are invited (for meals) he should attend. If he is not fasting he should partake of the meals and if he is fasting he should make Du'a for that person." (Sahih Muslim)


COMMENTARY

The above authentic narration is sufficient to rectify two misconceptions that dominate the minds of many Muslims today:

(a) that if invited - then the person must go and break his fast if he is fasting; and
(b) that if invited - then if he is fasting, he will not attend the meal.

The above narration displays the beauty of Mu'asharat (social dealings) in Islam, whereby a host will not have his food wasted, should the invitees decline his invitation; and that even if an invitee is fasting, he will still attend the gathering which has the effect of mahabbat and da'wah to the host, and everyone else in the gathering. Nevertheless, it should be noted that an invitee may politely decline an invitation if he clearly suspects acts of disobedience taking place at the very function, even if he is not fasting. May Allah SWT save us all.

Fast Of A Pregnant Woman In Ramadhan

The fast of a pregnant woman is valid. However, due to her possible weakness during pregnancy, she has permission to be exempted from fasting. After delivery of the baby, during Nifaas (bleeding after birth / lochia), she cannot fast.

The Evidence of the Syawal Six Day Fast

The fasting of the Syawal Six Day Fast is proven from a hadith in Sahih Muslim (No.1164), Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah (No.2114) etc. and there are many other narrations bearing out the same meaning, thus it is sunnah.