22/03/2026
Fasting in Shawwal – A Beautiful Continuation After Ramadan
Ramadan may end, but the path of worship continues. One of the most rewarding acts after Ramadan is fasting six days in the month of Shawwal.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted the whole year.” (Sahih Muslim)
This small act is filled with immense reward and quiet depth.
Why these six fasts are so special?
1. Reward of fasting the whole year
In Islam, every good deed is multiplied ten times. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Whoever comes with a good deed will have ten times the like of it.” (Surah Al-An'am 6:160)
Based on this:
• 30 days of Ramadan × 10 = 300
• 6 days of Shawwal × 10 = 60
Total = 360 days, which is like fasting an entire year.
But their beauty is not only in the reward. They also help preserve the taqwa, patience, and self-discipline gained during Ramadan.
2. Keeps the Ramadan spirit alive
They help preserve the patience, discipline, and closeness to Allah we built in Ramadan, allowing that connection to continue.
3. A sign of gratitude to Allah
They reflect sincere gratitude and a desire to stay close to Allah beyond Ramadan.
Rules and important points to remember
Time:
• Fasting on the 1st of Shawwal (Eid al-Fitr) is prohibited. The six fasts can be observed from the 2nd of Shawwal until the end of the month.
Method:
• It is preferable to fast the six days consecutively, but they can also be observed separately throughout the month. As long as six fasts are completed, the Sunnah is fulfilled.
Making up missed fasts or fasting Shawwal first?
• It is better to complete missed Ramadan fasts first, as they are obligatory. However, many scholars allow fasting the six days of Shawwal first and making up missed fasts later.
A beautiful example is found in the practice of Aisha (RA), who would sometimes make up her missed Ramadan fasts in the month of Sha'ban. (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
