Important reminder: Fasting the 6 days of Shawwal ends Sat 20th May 2023

Fasting 6 days of Shawwal : The Reward of an entire year of fasting:

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) 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 a whole year." [Sahîh Muslim (1163)]

Another authentic Hadith regarding the immense reward for fasting the 6 days of Shawwal states:

Abu Ayyub (Ra) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal , it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” (Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasai and Ibn Majah).

Subhaanallah! How generous is Allah who loves to give to his slaves!

Does not have to be fasted consecutively

These fasts do not have to be fasted consecutively as they can be fasted separately.

Better to make up the Qadha fasts first

It is better to make up Qadha Fard (Making up for missed Obligatory fasts) first and separate from the 6 voluntary fasts of Shawwal as it is more rewarding but many scholars say that one may also make a double intention to combine the Qadha Fard and 6 voluntary fasts of Shawwal. Many other scholars also say that one may fast the 6 voluntary fasts this month and make up for the Qadha Fard fasts later on.

More Reward to fast on the Sunnah days of fasting

It is even more rewarding to fast on the days where it is Sunnah to do voluntary fasts such as on Mondays and Thursdays and the white days (13th, 14th & 15th of each Islamic month).

We cannot afford to miss out on such huge & easy rewards

We may not get such an easy opportunity again to build up our bank of good deeds so we should not delay in doing good deeds lest we are taken by Death and our good deed accounts are closed forever. So the opportunity to do good is from now as we may not have a tomorrow. Surely in the Hereafter we will regret missing out on these opportunities to please Allah.