What is the ruling on fasting six days in Shawwal?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fasting
Primary text
Fasting six days of Shawwal is recommended according to a large number of scholars, including Ka'b al-Ahbar, Al-Sha'bi, Maymun ibn Mihran, and the school of Al-Shafi'i. The evidence for this is the statement of the Prophet, peace be upon him, narrated by Abu Ayyub: "Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime." This hadith is graded Hasan by Al-Tirmidhi and supported by three chains of narration according to Ahmad. Another narration from Thawban states that fasting Ramadan and then six days after Eid amounts to a complete year, as each good deed is multiplied by ten, making the month ten months and the six days sixty days, totaling twelve months, which is a full year. The virtue of this fasting is established, and there is no dispute regarding its recommendability.
Supporting text
Malik disliked it, stating he saw no jurist fasting them and that he had not heard of it from the Salaf, fearing it might be an innovation that attaches what is not part of Ramadan. However, the objection that this resembles fasting the whole lifetime, which is disliked, is countered by explaining that the dislike for perpetual fasting stems from the potential for weakness and resemblance to monasticism (tabattul); here, the comparison is to the attainment of great reward without hardship.