THE SIX FASTS OF SHAWWAAL
Question
We have always understood that it is Sunnat to fast six days in Shawwaal. However, a Maulana says that there is no ‘daleel’ for this. He says that one may fast throughout the year and that there is no Sunnah significance for fasting six days in Shawwaal. Is he correct? All our senior Mashaa-ikh had adhered to this practice. Were they all in error?
Answer
In error is the Maulana. His claim that there is no daleel for fasting six days in the month of Shawwaal is baseless and displays gross ignorance. The issue has no relevance to fasting the whole year. There is no merit in this incongruous statement.
This practice is valid and promoted by all of Four Math-habs. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhaan and follows it with Six days in Shawwaal is as if he has fasted the whole year.”
It is indeed surprising for the Maulana to claim that there is no daleel for the Six Fasts of Shawwaal. The Daleel consists of:
- The Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
- The Unanimous ruling of all Four Math-habs.
- The Ta-aamul of our Akaabir Ulama and Mashaa-ikh.
Explaining the view of some Fuqaha who said that it is Makrooh, Badaaius Sanaa’, states: “The Makrooh (practice) is to fast on the Day of Fitr and five days thereafter. However, if one does not fast on the Day of Fitr, but fasts six days thereafter, then it is not Makrooh. On the contrary it will Mustahab and Sunnah.”
Hadhrat Shah Abdul Haqq Dehlawi (Rahmatullah alayh) states in his Maa Thabata Bis Sunnah: “It is authentically established that in the month of Shawwaal six days of fasting are Masnoon. It is recorded in Saheeh Muslim from Hadhrat Abu Ayyuub Ansaari (Radhiyallahu anhu) that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that whoever fasts in Ramadhaan and follows it with six days in Shawwaal it is as if he has fasted the entire age.
Similarly is it narrated in the Hadith of Thu’baan (Radhiyallahu anhu) recorded in Ibn Maajah.”
Fataawa Raheemiyah states:
“There is profound virtue fasting the six days of Shawwaal after Ramadhaan. The fasts may be kept consecutively or separately.”
Question 2
The Maulana said that the six fasts after Ramadhaan may be kept throughout the year and are not restricted to the month of Shawwaal. Is this correct?
Answer
While there is such a view, it is obscure and rejected by all Four Math-habs. If the Maulana has the ability, he should check this issue in Shaami for a detailed explanation. It is not permissible to dig out from the kutub obscure and rare views which the Jamhoor have refuted and rejected. Hadhrat Allaamah Abdul Wahhaab Sha’raani (Rahmatullah alayh) as well as other Fuqaha have said:
“He who clings to the nawaadir of the Ulama has made his exit from Islam.”
The Maulana Sahib should therefore be careful and not compromise his Imaan by digging out obscure views and submitting the Hadith to his personal interpretation. The dalaa-il for the six days to be kept in Shawwaal are overwhelmingly conclusive and clinch the issue.
15 Shawwaal 1446 – 14 April 2025