Fasting Six Days in Shawwāl

Abu Ayyub Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) said:

Whoever fasts Ramadān then follows it with six days of [fasting in] in Shawwāl, it is as if he fasted a lifetime. [Sahih Muslim (1164)]

According to this formula there is a minimum ten-fold reward for every virtue, the saūm of one month of (Ramadān) is equivalent to the saūm of ten months. If one also observe the six days of saūm of Shawwāl, they will equal to saūm of two months. Thus, one becomes eligible for the reward of one full year's fast. He who makes it a permanent feature is like one who observes saūm throughout his life. He will be considered by Allah as one who observes saūm permanently. Although voluntary in nature they are highly important. One who observe these six-days saūm at a stretch or with intervals, but their observance one after the other at the beginning of the month is better. Similarly, if a person has missed some saūm of Ramadān due to illness, traveling etc., he should first make up the shortfall and then observe the voluntary six-day of shawwāl. Thawban narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

Whoever fasts six days after the Fitr will have completed the year, for whoever does a good deed will have the reward of ten like it. [Sunan Ibn Majah (1715)]

Wednesday, August 13, 2014