.*Fiqh of Fasting (9)*
*Sitta Shawwal*
*صيام الست من شوال أو صيام ستة شوال*
Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with 6 days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime” Sahih reported by Muslim, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i, and Ibn Maajah).
In another narration: “Whoever fasts for six days after (Eid) al-Fitr has completed the year: (whoever does a good deed (Hasanah) will have ten hasanah like it).” According to another report: “Allaah has made for each hasanah ten like it, so a month is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days completes the year.” (al-Nisaa’i and Ibn Maajah. See also Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, 1/421).
* This 6 days fasting is called ‘SITTAH SHAWWAAL’ or ‘SITTU SHAWWAAL’.
* This bonus is available in this month (Shawwaal).
* It is Sunnah not obligatory
* It is not compulsory to fast it consecutively, you can leave gab(s) but make it up to six before the end of Shawwaal.
* If a person fasts in Shawwaal to make up a missed fast, or in fulfillment of a vow, or otherwise, or on an occasion such as the day of ‘Ashuurah, he will also attain the reward for the voluntary fast. This applies to voluntary fasts in general, that have nothing to do with Ramadan. But with regard to the six days of Shawwaal, they are connected to Ramadan, so, Sitta Shawwaal cannot be counted as missed Ramadan fasts or vice versa. Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj (3/208), Mughni al-Muhtaaj (2/184) and Hawaashi Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj (3/457), Fataawa as-Siyaam (438)
* Make up your missed days during Ramadan first before ‘Sitta Shawwaal, though some jurists consented to the permissibility of Sitta Shawwal before making up missed days during Ramadan if time will not permit in the month of Shawwal but the most evidenced opinion is the former.
* You can start fasting of Sitta Shawwal on the 2nd of Shawwaal, if you like, but it is Haram to fast on Eid day (1st of Shawwal).
More Ref: Muslim 1164, Abu Daud 2433, Ahmad 5/280.
May Allah grant us an understanding of His religion and accept it as an act of ‘Ibadah Aameen.