Fasting 6 Days in Syawal, A Shortcut to a Year of Rewards

Fasting six days in the Islamic month of Syawal, following the obligatory fasts of Ramadan, is a highly recommended Sunnah in Islam. This practice brings immense spiritual reward and serves as a continuation of the momentum built during Ramadan.

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ

“Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will be (rewarded) as if he had fasted the entire year.” [Sahih Muslim : 1164]

Al-Imam al-Nawawi commented on the above hadith stating that it is the evidence used in mazhab al-Syafie, Hanbali and Daud (al-Zahiri) who ruled it sunnah to fast six days in Syawal, while the rewards in which they are equivalent to the rewards of fasting a whole year, is in accordance with another hadith of the Prophet SAW, where he said any good deeds will be rewarded and multiplied by 10 (أَنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا ).

Fasting consecutive or not?

The six days can be fasted consecutively or spread throughout the month, according to convenience.

Al-Imam Ibn Qudamah stated in al-Mughni: “…It does not matter (to observe the fast) if it is done consecutively or separately, or at the beginning or at the end of Syawal for the hadith states fast 6 days in Syawal unconditionally without detailing anything else…”

It’s also a reminder that worship does not end with Ramadan. Syawal offers a beautiful opportunity to maintain a spiritual routine and renew intentions for long-term personal growth.