Q&A: Fasting Six Days of Shawwal

Question

Does the fasting of six days of Shawwal have to be continuously, or can it be done separately?

Answer

Sayyiduna Abu Ayyoub Al-Ansari, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, narrated a Hadeeth which was reported by Imam Muslim, that the Prophet, salla Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam, said:

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّال، كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ

It means, “He who observes fasting in the month of Ramadan, and also observes another six days of fasting, in the month of Shawwal, it is as if he has observed fasting for the whole year.”

These six days of fasting (in Shawwal) can be done continuously, as well as it can be done separately; as long as they are done within Shawwal.

Here, it's important that we remember, that one is supposed to finish the days of Ramadhan, before they start with the six days of Shawwal. In other words, if one has remaining days of Ramadhan, which he or she couldn't fast, for some reasons, especially in the case of the sisters and the sick, he or she should finish those days, first. And if there are enough days left in Shawwal for him or her to fast, then they can observe it.

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Allah knows best.