[1457] عن أبي أيوب رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: مَن صام رمضان ثم أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا من شوال، كان كصيام الدهر.
[1457] Aboo Ayyoob (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “If anyone fasts Ramadaan then follows that by fasting six days in Shawwaal,{1} it would be like fasting the entire year.”{2}
\Notes:
{1} It is acceptable to fast these days consecutively or dispersed, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the month.
{2} Among the scholars, some have mentioned that fasting these six days of Shawwaal accompanies fasting Ramadaan in terms of reward. In other words, the person who completes fasting all the days of Ramadaan and then fasts six days of Shawwaal would attain the reward of obligatory fasting for the entire year. This view was ascribed to ibn al-Mubaarak. (See Lataa’if al-Ma‘aarif, pg. 299). If a person missed fasting any days of Ramadaan, those are the ones he should begin with in Shawwaal since making up obligatory fasts first would be swifter in fulfilling outstanding duties for which one is responsible, and that should be given priority over the six optional fasts in Shawwaal. The scholars differed about whether it is permissible for a person to perform optional fasts if he has outstanding obligatory fasts that he has not yet made up. However, even according to the view that it is permissible to perform optional fasts before making up missed obligatory fasts, a person would not attain the reward sought for fasting the six optional fasts in Shawwaal unless he first completes the obligatory fasts of Ramadaan and then follows that with the six optional ones. Therefore, if someone missed fasting any days of Ramadaan, but he fasts six optional fasts in Shawwaal before making up those missed days, he would not attain the reward of someone who fasts Ramadaan and then follows that with six fasts in Shawwaal because he did not yet complete the fasts of Ramadaan. A similar idea applies in the case of someone who does not fast any of Ramadaan due to having a legitimate excuse for not fasting: it can readily be understood that if such a person fasts six days of Shawwaal, he would not attain the reward of having fasted the entire year. In contrast to the preceding, if a person begins in Shawwaal by making up his missed obligatory fasts from Ramadaan, finishes doing so, and then wants to follow those with six more in Shawwaal, that would be the fitting thing to do since he would have completed all his obligatory fasts first, and then followed that with fasting optional days of Shawwaal. It should also be noted that days fasted in Shawwaal to make up missed days of Ramadaan are not fasts by which the aforementioned reward for fasting six in Shawwaal is attained, because the six optional fasts of Shawwaal intended here can only be counted as such after completing the days of Ramadaan. (See Lataa’if al-Ma‘aarif, pg. 302). A further applicable detail which some scholars have mentioned is that if someone wants to perform the six optional fasts during Shawwaal but ends up unable due to a legitimate reason – such as illness, or making up missed days from Ramadaan all the way until Shawwaal concludes – such a person should still fast the six days even if Shawwaal is over, and he would be rewarded for making up those optional fasts just like being rewarded for making up obligatory fasts after their prescribed time, due to having a legitimate excuse for doing so. A similar case is that of making up optional prayers after their prescribed time when one has an excuse for doing so, as established by authentic ahaadeeth. (See ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘, 6/466-467).
\End of notes.
[a1458] وعن ثوبان [رضي الله عنه] مولى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: من صام ستة أيام بعد الفطر كان تمام السنة ((من جاء بالحَسَنة فله عَشْرُ أمثالِها)).
[1458a] Thawbaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) – a slave who was emancipated by Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) – narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “If anyone fasts six days after ‘Eed al-Fitr, that would complete the entire year.” He then cited the passage of the Qur’aan that says, ((If a person comes to Allaah on the Day of Resurrection with one righteous deed, he will be granted the reward of ten like it)) [6:160].”
[al-Munthiree added that another narration of this hadeeth] contains the wording:
[b1458] جعل الله الحسنة بعشر أمثالها؛ فشهر بعشرة أشهر، وصيام ستة أيام بعد الفطر تمام السنة.
[1458b] Allaah made every single righteous deed merit the reward of ten like it. Hence, one month of fasting merits the reward of ten months, and fasting six days after ‘Eed al-Fitr completes the entire year.
[al-Munthiree added that another narration of this hadeeth] contains the wording:
[c1458] صيام شهر رمضان بعشرة أشهر، وصيام ستة أيام بشهرين؛ فذلك صيام السنة.
[1458c] Fasting the month of Ramadaan merits the reward of fasting ten months, and fasting six days merits the reward of fasting two months. Together, those amount to fasting the entire year.
[al-Munthiree added that another narration of this hadeeth] contains the wording:
[d1458] من صام رمضان، وستًّا من شوال، فقد صام السنة.
[1458d] Anyone who fasts Ramadaan along with six days in Shawwaal would attain the reward of fasting for the entire year.
[1459] وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: من صام رمضان، وأتبعه بست من شوال، فكأنما صام الدهر.
[1459] Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “If anyone fasts the month of Ramadaan, and follows that by fasting six days in Shawwaal, it would be as though he fasted the entire year”.{1}
\Notes:
{1} In addition to what preceded, there are some useful points that ibn Rajab mentioned about optional fasts in Shawwaal, and the following is a summary of them (adapted from Lataa’if al-Ma‘aarif, pg. 299-301). [1] One point is that the six optional fasts during the month of Shawwaal, along with optional fasting during the month of Sha‘baan in general, have a role like that of the optional prayers that precede or follow obligatory prayers in the sense that the optional acts compensate for the deficiencies in one’s performance of the obligatory acts. A number of ahaadeeth were reported from the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) about the fact that on the Day of Resurrection, one’s obligatory prayers will be completed by way of one’s optional prayers. With respect to fasting, the majority of people will inevitably have some sort of deficiency in their obligatory fasts and, as a result, they would be in need of other deeds to complete those and compensate for their deficiencies. [2] A second point is that continuing to fast some optional days after completing Ramadaan is an indicator that one’s obligatory fasting in Ramadaan was accepted; since when Allaah – the Most Exalted – accepts a deed performed by His worshipping servant, He guides that servant to perform further righteous deeds afterwards. Some of the scholars stated that one of the rewards yielded by a righteous deed is performing another righteous deed after it. Thus, if a person performs one righteous deed and then succeeds in following it with another, that would be an indicator that the former one was accepted by Allaah; and conversely, if a person performs a righteous deed but follows it with a sin, that would be an indicator that his righteous deed was not accepted. [3] A third point is that the obligatory fasting of Ramadaan yields forgiveness of sins, and fasting some optional days after ‘Eed al-Fitr is a manifestation of gratitude to Allaah for granting the favour of forgiveness, which is among the greatest of blessings. Fasting those optional days also manifests gratitude to Allaah for guiding and enabling one to complete the obligatory fasts of Ramadaan. In contrast, receiving Allaah’s favours of being guided and enabled to fast Ramadaan but then following those by deliberately disobeying Allaah and committing sins represents utmost ingratitude for Allaah’s favours. If a person fasts but has the resolve to return to sins once fasting is over, that person’s fasting would not be accepted and the gates of mercy would end up closed in his face. [4] A fourth point is that the deeds which a person performs to draw nearer to Allaah in Ramadaan do not end just because Ramadaan ends. Rather, the opportunities to perform righteous deeds remain for as long as the person remains alive. There are many people who are happy when Ramadaan ends because they found fasting long, tedious, and burdensome. A person with that perspective would practically never be quick to fast again after its obligatory time concludes. Therefore, when a person returns to fasting after ‘Eed al-Fitr, this shows that he is desirous of worshipping Allaah by fasting; and that he does not find fasting tedious or burdensome, neither when obligated to do so, nor at other times.
\End of notes.
Discussion/Review for Section 9.04:
Q1 When and how can fasting the six optional days of Shawwaal be done?
Q2 What view was ascribed to ibn al-Mubaarak regarding the relationship between fasting Ramadaan along with six days of Shawwaal?
Q3 What comment was made regarding fasting missed days of Ramadaan first versus fasting six optional days of Shawwaal first, and what source was that comment cited from?
Q4 If someone intended to fast six optional days in Shawwaal but was prevented by legitimate reasons all the way until Shawwaal ended, should he make up the six optional fasts? Why or why not?
Q5 How does fasting Ramadaan and following it with fasting six days in Shawwaal merit the reward of fasting for an entire year?
Q6 What are four points ibn Rajab mentioned about optional fasts in Shawwaal?