(FASTING 6 DAYS IN MONTH OF SHAWWAL IN LIGHT OF AUTHENTIC HADITH)

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ.

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

Dear Brothers and Sisters …

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillah Allah blessed us with the holy month of Ramadan and the month of shawaal starting with Eid Ul Fitr. Today’s topic is about the importance of fasting 6 days in the month of Shawwal. The importance of these fasts mentioned in the mainstream books of Hadith.

So, first Reference is from Sahih Muslim Hadith No 1.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، – قَالَ ابْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، – أَخْبَرَنِي سَعْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، بْنِ ثَابِتِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ الْخَزْرَجِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، – رضى الله عنه – أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ ‏”‏ ‏

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal it would be as if he fasted whole his life. Sahih Muslim 1164a

https://sunnah.com/muslim:1164a

Hadith No 2. Reward as he is fasting the whole his life Mishkat 2047.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّال كَانَ كصيام الدَّهْر» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari said that God’s messenger said, “If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast.” Muslim transmitted it. Mishkat al-Masabih 2047: Chapter 7a: Voluntary Fasting – Section 1, Book 7: Fasting

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2047

Hadith No 3 in Sunan Ibne Maja:

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا بَقِيَّةُ، حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الذِّمَارِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أَسْمَاءَ الرَّحَبِيَّ، عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، مَوْلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: ‏”‏ مَنْ صَامَ سِتَّةَ أَيَّامٍ بَعْدَ الْفِطْرِ كَانَ تَمَامَ السَّنَةِ ‏{مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا}‏‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Thawban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever fasts six days after the Fitr will have completed the year, for whoever does a good deed will have the reward of ten like it.” Sunan Ibn Majah 1715

https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1715

Hadith No 4 in Sunan Ibne Maja:

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ بِسِتٍّ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ، كَانَ كَصَوْمِ الدَّهْرِ ‏”‏

It was narrated from Abu Ayyub that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime. Sunan Ibn Majah 1716.

https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1716

Hadith No 5 in Masnad E Ahmed : 21382 (reward multiple by 10)

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَكَمُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْحَارِثِ الذِّمَارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي أَسْمَاءَ الرَّحَبِيِّ عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ فَشَهْرٌ بِعَشَرَةِ أَشْهُرٍ وَصِيَامُ سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ بَعْدَ الْفِطْرِ فَذَلِكَ تَمَامُ صِيَامِ السَّنَةِ

حضرت ثوبان ؓ کی مرویات

حضرت ثوبان ؓ سے مروی ہے کہ نبی کریم ﷺ نے ارشاد فرمایا جو شخص ماہ رمضان کے روزے رکھ لے تو وہ ایک مہینہ دس مہنیوں کے برابر ہوگا اور عیدالفطر کے بعد چھ دن کے روزے رکھ لینے سے پورے سال کے روزوں کا ثواب ہوگا۔

http://www.equranlibrary.com/hadith/musnadahmad/888/21382

Surah Anam : 6:160

مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُۥ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَن جَآءَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰٓ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged. Saheeh International

EXACT CALCULATION OF 12 MONTH FASTING REWARD ACCORDING TO HADITH

So calculation of full year as every reward is multiplied by 10. So, one month of Ramadan multiplied by 10 is equal to 10 month and then 6 Fasting of Shawwal like 6 x 10 equal to 60 days and 60 days equal to 2 months so 10 months + 2 is equal to 12 months. Subhan Allah.

Now, it is mentioned in some hadith regarding fasting whole is life can be understood if someone fasting every year month of Ramadan and 6 of shawwal is equal to one year so in that sense he is fasting whole years.

Rasool Allah’s Saw explanation of the full mathematical equation.

Similarly, like 1 prayer equal to 10 prayer and equal to 50. So less hard work but reward to whole life. See following hadith to get same reward after lot of efforts when you miss this 6 shawaal fasting.

Hadith No 6. Fasting whole year by doing more efforts

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟» فَقُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ: «فَلَا تَفْعَلْ صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا. لَا صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الدَّهْرَ. صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ. صُمْ كُلَّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَاقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ» . قُلْتُ: إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: ” صُمْ أَفْضَلَ الصَّوْمِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ: صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ. وَاقْرَأْ فِي كُلِّ سَبْعِ لَيَالٍ مَرَّةً وَلَا تَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ “

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As told of God’s messenger saying to him, “Have I not been informed, ‘Abdallah, that you fast during the day and get up at night for prayer?” [Mirqat explains this as meaning all night.] When he replied that that was so, he said, “Do not do it. Fast and break your fast, get up for prayer and sleep, for you have a duty to your body, your eye, your wife, and your visitors. May he who observe a perpetual fast never fast!* Fasting three days every month is equivalent to a perpetual fast. Fast three days every month and recite the Qur’an every month.” When he replied that he was able to do more than that, he said, “Observe the most excellent fast, that of David, fasting every second day, and recite the Qur’an once every seven nights, but do no more than that. Mishkat al-Masabih 2054.

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2054

Hadith No 7. Special dua regarding small efforts and big reward like worth the whole day worship.

وَعَن جوَيْرِية أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا بُكْرَةً حِينَ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَهِيَ فِي مَسْجِدِهَا ثُمَّ رَجَعَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَضْحَى وَهِيَ جَالِسَةٌ قَالَ: «مَا زِلْتِ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي فَارَقْتُكِ عَلَيْهَا؟» قَالَتْ: نَعَمْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” لَقَدْ قُلْتُ بَعْدَكِ أَرْبَعَ كَلِمَاتٍ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ لَوْ وُزِنَتْ بِمَا قُلْتِ مُنْذُ الْيَوْمِ لَوَزَنَتْهُنَّ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَاءَ نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاته “. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Juwairiya said that the Prophet went out from her one morning at the time when he prayed the morning prayer while she was in her place of worship. He returned in the forenoon and found her sitting. He asked her if she was still in the same position as that in which he had left her, and when she replied that that was so, he said, “Since leaving you I have three times said four phrases which, if weighed against all you have said today, would prove to be heavier: Glory be to God, and I begin with praise of Him to the number of His creatures, in accordance with His good pleasure, to the weight of His throne and the extent of His words.” Muslim transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 2301: Chapter 3a: The Reward for Glorifying, Praising, Declaring God’s Unity and His Greatness – Section 1, Book 9: Supplications

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2301

Shawwal fasting in view of 2 Maslak Malaiki and Hanafi:

Fasting of Shawwal Refusal from Imam Malik but all the students of Imam Malik explain that this Hadith did not reach Imam Malik.

Again, in accordance to Hanfi, imam abu hanifa they also considered these Fasting as Makrooh”, against the hadith of Rasool Allah saw. This is all mentioned in their fiqh books.

I pray that you and I will be amongst those whom Allah rewards, without limits. I also pray Allah swt for the understanding of the Deen and Masail according to Quran and in the light of Authentic Hadith. The need to mention this is so that you understand do not follow blindly and look into other matters you are doing by following the Masalik giving preference over authentic Hadith.

Astaghfirullah, lot of third level people have written the books against sunnah/hadith of Rasool Allah saw of Fasting 6 days of shawwal to show their allegiance to Imam’s rather than following Rasool Allah saw.

I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon our Prophet as your Lord commanded:

Allahumma Sallai Al’a Muahmmad’n wa’aila Muhammad

Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favours – He will increase you therein.  And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.

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By Imam Mahboob Rasool.