Enter Sitta Shawwal

The Islamic scholars say the six days of Shawwal voluntary fasting are, to the obligatory fast of Ramadan, what the Sunnah prayers are to the obligatory prayers.It is related from Thawban that the Prophet (SAW) said: “The fast of Ramadan is like observing 10 months of fasting. Fasting six days of Shawwal is like observing […]

The Islamic scholars say the six days of Shawwal voluntary fasting are, to the obligatory fast of Ramadan, what the Sunnah prayers are to the obligatory prayers.
It is related from Thawban that the Prophet (SAW) said: “The fast of Ramadan is like observing 10 months of fasting. Fasting six days of Shawwal is like observing two months of fasting. This together is like fasting throughout the year.” – Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah and Sunan al-Nasa’i al-Kubra – and authenticated by al-Albani.
One of the companions, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (RA), narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “He who fasts Ramadan, and six of Shawwal, it will be (in terms of rewards) as if he fasted a whole year.” -Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Ibn Majah.
The scholars, in commenting on the hadith narrated above by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (amongst them As-San’ani said in Subul us-Salam) say: “If the 30 days of Ramadan fasting are assimilated with the six days of fasting in Shawwal, it altogether makes 36 days. According to Shari`ah, each virtue is rewarded 10 times. Therefore, if we multiply 36 with 10, it makes 360, a number which equals the days of a year.
In fact the Sitta Shawwal, for its regular observers, carries the reward of fasting a life-time. This is buttressed by, among others, the narration by Abu Ayyub (RA) who reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “If anyone who has kept the fasts in Ramadan, follows them up with six (optional) fasts of Shawwal then (he will get reward for the fast of a year but if he does that always) it is as if he fasted all his life. – Muslim.
Another important benefit of fasting six days of Shawwal is that it makes up for shortfall(s) in a person’s obligatory Ramadan fast, as no one is free of shortcomings or sins that could have negative effect on his fasting.
Some of the scholars are also of the opinion that these six days of fasting in Shawwal must be completed in a continuous order right after the end of Ramadan – excluding Eid (sallah) day of course.
Others, however, believe that it is enough to complete six days of fasting in Shawwal (in any order, either consecutively or staggered with intervals), an opinion which is deemed to be correct. Others though are divided on the authenticity of the Hadith narration by the companion, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (RA). While some point at a weak liability in the narration, others however would not question its reputation.
And Allah (SWT) says: “We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner to be lost.” Al-Qur’an 18:30. So when it comes to implementation, in other words, fasting six days of Shawwal, most scholars consider it highly desirable.
From the Authentic Hadith, one can also fast on Mondays and Thursdays, as narrated by Ummul Mu’iminin, A’isha (RA) that: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to fast Mondays and Thursdays”. – An-Nasa’i.
It is similarly related by Umm Salama (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) used to fast mostly on Saturdays and Sundays, and he used to say: “They are the festival days for the mushrikin, and I like to act contrary to them.” [an-Nasa’i, Ibn Khuzaymah, who graded it sahih. So if one choses to fast on weekends, he would still be following another sunnah of the Prophet (SAW).
It is also the position of the scholars that where someone missed some of the days of Ramadan, he should fast those missed days first, then fast the six days of Shawwal, because he cannot follow the fast of Ramadan with six days of Shawwal unless he has completed his Ramadan fast.
And after – or along with – the Sitta Shawwal, are the weekly, Monday and Thursday fasts to be observed, among others.
Allah knows best.