About Shawwal Fasting

Six Days of Shawwāl

After completing Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to fast six voluntary days in Shawwāl (the month following Ramadan). Combined with the Ramadan fast, these six days bring the reward of fasting for an entire lifetime.

These fasts are entirely voluntary and flexible — they can be done consecutively or spread across the month — but they must come after all obligatory Ramadan days have been completed, including any make-ups.

Significance & benefits

The Great Reward

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwāl, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime" (Muslim 1164, Abu Dawud 2433).

How the Reward is Calculated

Ramadan = 30 days × 10 (for each good deed) = 300 days of reward. Six days of Shawwāl × 10 = 60 days of reward. Total = 360 days = a full year. Done every year, this equals perpetual fasting throughout one's life.

Why After Ramadan?

• Gratitude: Fasting after Ramadan expresses thankfulness to Allah for enabling you to complete it. • Consistency: It prevents spiritual decline after the intensity of Ramadan and maintains the momentum. • Sign of acceptance: Being enabled to do good deeds after Ramadan is considered a sign that one's Ramadan was accepted. • Supplement for deficiencies: Voluntary fasts compensate for any shortcomings in the obligatory Ramadan fast.

Scholarly Note

The majority of scholars hold that the six days need not be consecutive — they may be fasted anytime throughout Shawwāl. However, fasting them consecutively (from the 2nd of Shawwāl onward) is recommended by many scholars to maintain the Ramadan spirit.

How to perform / practice

When to Begin

Start from the 2nd of Shawwāl — not the 1st (Eid al-Fitr), as fasting on Eid is strictly prohibited (Muslim 1138).

Complete Make-Ups First

Complete all missed Ramadan days before fasting the six Shawwāl days. Scholars hold that the full reward of "following Ramadan with six days" only applies when all of Ramadan has been completed, including make-ups (this is the stronger view, though some scholars differ).

Flexibility

  1. Consecutively: Start the 2nd and fast six days in a row — many recommend this to maintain the Ramadan spirit.
  2. Separately: Spread across the month of Shawwāl in any combination — all are valid.
  3. Intention: Renew intention (niyyah) each night for the following day's fast.
  4. Breaking the fast: At Maghrib with dates and water, following the Sunnah.

Note

If the month of Shawwāl ends before you complete all six days, the opportunity passes for that year. Plan ahead and start early in the month.

References