Shawwal Fasting | What is Shawwal Fasting

Shawwal Fasting

Among the mercy of Allah for His servants is He preached the fast of Shawwal after the month of Ramadan, so that they may gain virtue as fast as a whole year. Here is a brief discussion of Shawwal fasting, may be useful.

The Law of Shawwal Fasting

Fasting Shawwal the law mustahab (Sunna), based on the word of the Prophet Sallallahu 'Alayhi wasallam :

Ibn Qudamah in Al-Mughni says:



Described in Mausu'ah Fiqhiyyah Kuwaitiyyah (28/92):


So the rajih (Stronger Opinion) is the opinion of jumhur ulama that is the fasting of six days in the month of Shawwal the law is mustahab (sunnah) as indicated by the hadith.

The virtue of Shawal fasting

In general, all the virtues of fasting are also present in the fast of Shawwal. Regarding the virtue of fasting.

But the fast of Shawwal has a special virtue, which is to perfect the fasting of Ramadan so it is worth the fasting of a full year. as mentioned by the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam :


In another history:


Imam An-Nawawi said:

Shawwal's fast advantages

• Shawal fasts perfect the rewards of Ramadan fast so worth the fast for a full year.
• Fasting Shawwal and fasting Sha'ban as salat sunnah rawatib before and after prayer, perfected deficiencies and defects that exist in the main shalat. Because the main shalat will be perfected with sunnah worship on the Day of Judgment. Most people, Ramadan fasts contain shortages and defects, so it need the deeds that can perfect it.
• Accustomed to fasting after the fasting Ramadan is a sign of acceptance of Ramadan fasting practice. Because when God accepts the practice of a servant, Allah will give him Tawfik (opportunity to achieve success) to perform the next good deeds. As some scholar says:

So whoever does something good, then followed by the other good, this is a sign of good deeds is accepted by God. As the one who does a good, but then followed by other ugliness, this is a sign of good deeds is not accepted by God.

The people who fasted Ramadan perfected the reward on the day of Eid and forgiven his/her sins. So the day of Eid is the day of the reward of goodness. So fasting after Eid is a form of gratitude for the blessings. While there are no greater blessings than the reward of Allah ta'ala and forgiveness from Allah.

The procedure of Shawwal fasting

The procedure of Shawwal's fast is generally the same as the Ramadan fasting.  The difference is in several ways:

1.The intention of Shawwal fasting

We have seen together that it is required to present the intentions of the night before the fast, ie before the dawn. As the words of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam :


But some scholars explain that this applies to obligatory fasting. As for fasting nafilah (Sunna) then it can present the intention after the dawn. Because the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam never do that. As in Hadith Aisha Radhi Allahu 'anha :


Imam An-Nawawi said:
But in my opinion, it is better to do fasting intention while sahoor/sahur,

2. Not necessarily sequential

Not like fasting Ramadan, Shawwal fasting is not required to be in order ( mutatabi'ah ) in the implementation. May be done separately ( mutafarriqah ) day. Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz explains,

3. May break the fast with or without uzur (obstacles (which causes people not to go, work, and so on))

It is permissible to break the nafilah (sunnah) fasting either because of a udzur syar'i or without uzur. Based on the hadith Aisha radhiallahu'anha ,


Also based on the hadith of Umm Hani ' radhiyallahu' anha , she asked:


Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz explains:

4. For women should seek permission to her husband

If a woman wants to do the Sunna fast, including the fast of Shawwal, it is obligatory to ask permission from her husband first or he knows that her husband permits. Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam said:


And the fast which is meant in this hadeeth is the sunna fast, as described in another narration, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam said:


Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said:


He also said:

Can we prioritize the fast of Shawwal before fulfilling the debt of fasting?

On this issue we have a good explanation from Shaykh Abdul Aziz Ath-Tharifi and this is the opinion that we are more inclined on this issue:

"The scholars differ on the validity and permissibility of fasting sunna before qadha fasting. They err in two opinions and two narrations of Imam Ahmad are in these two opinions. And the law can be legal.

Imam Muslim narrated a sahih hadith that marfu ':


His words " ... fasting Ramadan then followed ... " interpreted by a number of scholars to obligatory perfect the fasting Ramadan before doing the fasting sunah. And this is also the zahir of Sa'id bin Musayyab which al-Bukhari brought in mu'allaq (not mentioning the complete sanad), he said about the fast of the sunnah ten days (month of Dhu al-Hijjah) before the fasting qadha of Ramadan:


Al-Baihaqi and Abdurrazzaq narrated from Ats-Tsauri, from Uthman ibn Muhib, he said: I heard Abu Hurairah when asked someone:


And narrated by Abdurrazzaq, from Ibn Juraij, from 'Atha that he considered it makruh.

And narrated by Abdurrazzaq, from Sufyan, from Hammad that he said:


And ending the qadha of Ramadan fasting until the month of Sha'ban the law is allowed, based on the act of 'Aisha radhiyallahu' anha. As al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Salamah, said: I heard Aisha radhiyallahu 'anha said:


The valid opinion is that it is permissible to end the fasting qadha of Ramadan even though it is not an emergency, with a note that hastens it more better. If no emergency it may be allowed, of course, end it because doing the fasting Shawwal more feasible to be allowed. And this is one of the narrations of Imam Ahmad rahimahullah's opinion . With note, that the scholars agree that the more important is to precede qadha fasting and escape from dependents. In our view, this is the meaning Abu Hurairah desired, Sa'id ibn Musayyib, Atha, Sa'id bin Jubair, Ibrahim ibn Sa'id in the narrations above.

And it should be noted also, that a person who does not fast Ramadan because of an udzur then wrote for him the reward of fasting for the day that he left it even though he has not fulfilled his fasting with qadha. For the one who is impeded by an excuse (Udzur) is gets as one who practices a legal practice. As in a hadith:


And the fasting qadha of Ramadan is vast, while Shyawal fasting time is limited, narrow and fast passing "(Source: http://www.altarefe.com/cnt/ftawa/312 ).

Combining the intention of fasting Shawwal with other fasting

This problem is known in the fiqh as a tasyrik an niyyat or tasyrik ibadatain fi niyyah (merging some intentions in worship). There are three details in this issue, which are as follows:


So from this rule we can answer the following problems:

1. Combining the fast of Shawwal with qadha fasting

The law is unlawful and not allowed, because the fast of Shawwal and the qadha of Ramadan fast are both worship that maqshudah bi dzatiha. Both are stand-alone worship, so it is illegitimate to combine in one's intentions. *Just remember that you can't combine your qadha fast and shawwal :3

Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz said:

2. Combining the fast of Shawwal with the fast of ayyamul bidh

The law is legal and permissible. Because the fast of ayyamul bidh is worship that ghayru maqshudah bidzatiha (sorry, a lot of new words here). When a person performs a fast 3 days in a month, at any time of the day and whatever type of fasting he performs (it is prescribed) then he has gained the virtue of the ayyamul bidh fast. (read third point, and you will be get more understanding InsyaAllah)

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen declared:

3. Incorporating the fast of Shawwal with the fast of Monday and Thursday

The law is legal and permissible. Because the Monday and Thursday fast is a worship that ghayru maqshudah bidzatiha . Because the Monday-Thursday fast is prescribed not because of its dzat, but because the appointment of practice in that day so it is recommended fasting, whatever fasting it does. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam said:

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen said:

Thus a brief discussion of the Jurisprudence Fiqh of Shawwal. May be an additional knowledge for all of us, and may Allah ta'ala make it easy for us to practice it.

Wabillahi at-taufiq was-sadaad.
Wallahu a'lam

***

Reference:

Ahkam Shiyamis Sitt min Shawwal, Muhammad ibn Abdillah bin Salih al-Habdan,
Mausu'ah Fiqhiyyah Kuwaitiyyah, Ministry of Religious Affairs of Kuwait, Asy-Syamilah
Fatwas from the scholars from various sources