Islamic Verdicts - Volume III

The Book Of fasting

Voluntary fasting

The ruling on making up for the six Days after Shawwal

Q: A woman fasts six days from the month of Shawwal every year. Then, during one of the years she was in the period of postnatal bleeding due to giving birth to her child at the beginning of the month of Ramadhan. She did not become pure until after Ramadhan was over. Then, after she became pure, she started making up for the missed days (of Ramadhan). Is she obligated also to make up for the six days (of Shawwal) after making up for the fast of Ramadhan, even if that is in a month other than Shawwal, or is she only required to make up for Ramadhan? Is fasting these six days from Shawwal always mandatory or not?

A: Fasting six days of Shawwal is Sunnah (i.e., supererogatory) and it is not obligatory. This is due to the statement of the Prophet (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam): "Whoever fasts Ramadhan, and then follows it up with six (days of fasting) from Shawwal, then that is as if he fasted the entire time (i.e., year)" (Muslim no. 1164).

This was recorded by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, and this mentioned Hadith proves that there is no harm in fasting them consecutively or separately due to the generality of its wording. To make haste in fasting them is better due to Allah's Statement: "And I hastened to You my Lord so  that you  would be pleased'' (Ta-Ha 20: 84).

This is also due to what the Qur'anic Verses and the Prophetic Hadiths prove concerning the virtue of racing and making haste to the good. It is not obligatory to always perform this fast, but that is better. This is due to the Prophet's statement: "The most beloved deed to Allah is that which its doer does consistently, even if it is small in amount" (Al-Bukhari no. 43. Muslim no. 782).

It is not legislated to make up for this fast after the month of Shawwal is over, because it is Sunnah and its place has been missed, regardless of whether she abandoned it due to an excuse or without an excuse. And Allah is the Giver of success.

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz

Making up for missed Days comes first

Q: Whoever has to make up for days of fasting from Ramadhan, and he desires to fast the six days from Shawwal, and he wants to fast them before making up for what is due on him. He wants to do this due to the consideration that the days of Ramadhan can be made up for at any time, but the six days of Shawwal are only in the month of Shawwal. I hope for some benefit from you, and may Allah reward you.

A: What is legislated is that the person begins with making up for the fast before fasting the six days. This is because the Messenger (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) said: "Whoever fasts Ramadhan, and then follows it up with six (days of fasting) from Shawwal..." (Muslim no. 1164).

If he fasts it before making up for the missed fasts, he has not achieved following up Ramadhan with it. Rather, he has fasted it before the other part of it (i.e., completing Ramadhan). This is also because the obligation is more important and it has more right to be given precedence.

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz