Eternal Blessings of Fasting Six Days in Shawwal after Ramadan

Do you fall back to the same routine after Ramadan and trying to uphold the activities that you have once shunt in Ramadan? Do not relinquish what you have in hands and what you have achieved in the last month of Ramadan. To continue this habit even after Ramada, Allah has blessed the Muslims with the divine month of Ramadan, which is Shawaal about which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Said:

“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he had fasted the year through.” [Sahih Muslim]

ramadan and six days

The main purpose of this month is to compensate what you have missed in the month of Ramadan. In Ramadan, most of the Muslims observe fasts and do prayers but there are times when they are not able to fast due to any reason that is justified as per Islamic jurisprudence. For all such Muslims Shawwal is the month to pay back for the obligatory Fasts and to continue doing all the good deeds.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is better to fast in any other month of Ramadan. Six days of Shawwal is equal to the fasting on entire year. Hadith narrates:

The fast of Ramadan is like observing ten months of fasting. Fasting six days of Shawwal is like observing two months of fasting. This together is like fasting throughout the year.” [Sunan An Nasa’i]

As per Scholars, the reward on these days multiplies tenfold. Fasting on the month of Ramadan is equals to the fasting of a month but fasting on these six days of Shawwal is equals to fasting of an entire year.

Fasting on Shawwal is Voluntary Deed:

It was the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to observe fast in Shawwal. These extra prayers cover the deficiency in our prayers performance. At the Day of Judgment when nothing can be our savior these voluntary deeds will compensate all the shortcomings of our deeds and help to seek Mercy of our Lord. In Hadith, it is Narrated that:

“The first thing for which people will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be their Salah (prayer). Our Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, will say to His angels – although He knows best – ‘Look at the Salah of My slave, whether it is complete or incomplete.’ If it is perfect, it will be recorded as perfect, and if something is lacking, He will say, ‘Look and see whether My slave did any voluntary prayers.’ If he did some voluntary prayers, [Allah] will say, complete the obligatory actions of My slave from his voluntary actions.’ Then all his actions will be dealt with in a similar manner.” [Sunnan Abu Dawud]

Shawwal Fasts Equivalent to Reward of Year:

Fasting in Shawwal and observing fast on the six days is equivalent to the fasting of entire year. Reward of fasting on one day is greater than any other deed than imagine the reward of fasting of one complete year. In Hadith, it is narrated that:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” [Sahih Muslim]

It is further explained as:

“According to another report: “Allah has made for each hasanah ten like it, so a month is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days completes the year.” [An Nasa’i]

What are The Best Days To Fast in Shawwal?

Most of the people ask about when to fast and on which days of Shawwal should we suppose to choose to observe fast on but in Islamic narrations, there is no such day or any particular time. There are indirect certain things which we can infer to observe fasts accordingly.

Allah says and the Islamic Scholars has concluded:

  • Compete in Good Deeds:

Allah says in Quran that “compete in good deeds” [Quran 5:48] which suggests that the sooner the better. This means that as soon as the month of Shawwal starts, observe fast.

  • Hasten to Do Good Deeds:

Yet again, it is stated in Quran that hasten to do good deeds as Allah Almighty in the Holy Book of Quran appreciates it:

shawal and ramadan

“He said, “They are close upon my tracks, and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased.” [Quran 20:84]

  • To Fast consecutively:

As per the narrations, it is Mustahabb to fast consecutively in the month of Shawwal as the Hadith narrates:

“Our companions said: it is mustahabb to fast six days of Shawwal. Because of this Hadith, they said: it is Mustahabb to fast these days consecutively at the beginning of Shawwal, but if one separates them or delays them until after Shawwal, this is permissible, because he will still be following the general guidelines of the Hadith. We have no dispute regarding this matter, and this was also the view of Ahmad and Dawud.” [An Nawawi]

Fasting is a shield against odds and evils for Muslims and helps in the purification of soul. It is the Sunnah and not an obligatory deed that is why the reward is hundred times more than the rest of the deeds.