Q: Is the fasting of the six days of Shawaal an established Sunnah?
Assalamualaikum,
Majority of the Ulamaa are upon the view that it is an established Sunnah. Their evidence for this is the following prophetic tradition:
Aboo Ayyoob al-Ansaaree narrated: Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: "He who fasts Ramadhaan, and six of Shawwaal, it will be (in terms of rewards) as if the fasted a whole year." [Reported by Muslim, at-Tirmidhee, Aboo Daawood, Ahmad, Ibn Maajah]
This hadith is clear in proving that the six days of fasting in sahwaal is an established Sunnah and that there are great rewards for the one that conforms to this Sunnah.
However, there is a second view,which is the reported view of Imaam Maalik regarding these fasts. Ibn Rushd al-Qurtubee in Bidaayat ul-Mujtahid said that Maalik (rahimahullaah) considered these fasts to be disapproved. The reason for him taking this stance can be summarised in the following points, and I quote:
"1. Either because people might associate with Ramadhaan that which is not a part of it, or
2. Either because the hadith had not reached him or
3. The hadith did not prove to be authentic for him, which is more likely."
However, we know that Imam Maalik said as reported by Ibn `Abdul Barr and Ibn Hazm:
"Truly I am only a mortal: I make mistakes (sometimes) and I am correct (sometimes). Therefore, when you look into my opinions: all that agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, accept it; and all that does not agree with the Book and the Sunnah, ignore it. This statement is reported by by
In commenting on the above mentioned hadeeth, As-San`aanee said in Subul us-Salaam: "If the thirty days of Ramadhaan fasting are assimilated with the six days of fasting in Shawwaal, it altogether makes 36 days. According to our Sharee`ah, each virtue is rewarded ten times! Therefore, if we multiply 36 with 10, it makes 360, a number which equals the days of the year.
Alhamdulillah! how merciful is Allah Almighty upon us, offering us chance after chance to earn from his many bounties.
May Allah Almighty assist us in fasting the six days of shawwal. Ameen.
Sajid Ahmed Umar
