Islamic Forum • Created August 8, 2014 04:00

Still on fasting in Shawwal

The meaning is that the reward is like the reward of a person who is always in fast every day of his/her life. It is highly recommended to fast six days of the month of Shawwal, but it is not obligatory. Those who want to fast can fast after `Eid el-Fitr any six days during […]

Still on fasting in Shawwal
Still on fasting in Shawwal

The meaning is that the reward is like the reward of a person who is always in fast every day of his/her life.
It is highly recommended to fast six days of the month of Shawwal, but it is not obligatory. Those who want to fast can fast after `Eid el-Fitr any six days during Shawwal.
It is not required to fast six days continuously without any interruption. One can fast according to convenience any time during the month.
Shawwal is the 10th month in the lunar calendar. The first of Shawwal is Eid-el-Fitr. After the festivity of Eid it is recommended to observe six days of fast. If you observe it continuously, you may start on the fourth day and end on the ninth of day Shawwal, or you may select days at random, provided you complete six days before the end of Shawwal. For instance, you may observe the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, 14th and 15th days. Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (ra) related the Messenger of Allah, (pbuh), said:
“Whoever observes the Ramadan fast and follows it with six days of fast in Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted Dahr (the whole year).” (Bukhari). Possibly it may also mean forever, or for life.
Analyzing this hadith, jurists (Ulama) explained how, according to this hadith, a Muslim who fasts during Ramadan every year and follows it with six days fast of Shawwal, will be credited for fasting a whole lifetime.
The Jurists correctly said: a good deed (hasanah) is rewarded a minimum of 10 times its equivalent. It follows, then, that one Ramadan is equivalent to 10 months of fasting, and the clincher, six days, is equal to two months, (6×10=60). That undoubtedly completes the year’s 12 months. Thus, we see the wisdom and the reason why the Prophet (pbuh) mentioned six days after Ramadan in Shawwal, not five or seven.

Tags