Ramadan has ended. Eid is over. The dates box is still on the table, the routine of suhoor and iftar has stopped, and within a few days most of us feel the spiritual level of Ramadan slipping away. It is exactly at this moment that the Prophet (peace be upon him) pointed us to six more fasts.
Fasting six days of Shawwal is one of the simplest and most rewarding voluntary acts in the year. The promise attached to it is remarkable. Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will have the reward of fasting the entire year. That promise is not from a weak report or a popular poster. It is in Sahih Muslim.
This article covers the authentic hadith behind these fasts, how the reward of a full year is calculated, when to start, whether the days must be consecutive, and the question that stops many people every year, namely whether missed Ramadan fasts must be made up first.
Quick Answer
Fasting six days of Shawwal after completing Ramadan gives the reward of fasting a whole year, as stated in Sahih Muslim 1164. The fasts can be kept on any six days of Shawwal, consecutive or separate, starting from the second day of Shawwal, because fasting on Eid day itself is forbidden. Each good deed is rewarded ten times, so Ramadan counts as ten months and the six days count as two months.
What Is Shawwal?
Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. It comes straight after Ramadan. Its first day is Eid Al-Fitr, the festival that ends the month of fasting.
Because Shawwal follows Ramadan so closely, the body and the soul are still used to fasting. The stomach has a rhythm. The habit of waking early and controlling hunger is fresh. Scholars point out that this is part of the wisdom of the timing. Returning to fasting after Eid, when food is everywhere and the soul wants to rest, is harder than fasting inside Ramadan. That difficulty is one reason the reward is so large.
The Authentic Hadith on Fasting Six Days of Shawwal
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted for a whole year.” (Sahih Muslim 1164)
Sahih Muslim is one of the two most authentic collections of hadith. Imam At-Tirmidhi also recorded this hadith at number 759 and graded it hasan sahih. The same virtue is narrated from a number of other Companions as well, which is why some hadith masters described this report as extremely well supported. There is no serious doubt about the authenticity of fasting six days of Shawwal.
The act itself is recommended, not obligatory. A person who does not fast these six days commits no sin. A person who fasts them gains the promised reward. This balance matters, because some people treat the six fasts almost like a second Ramadan and burden themselves and their families. The Sunnah presents them as an opportunity, not a second obligation.
How Do Six Days Equal a Full Year? The Calculation Explained
Many readers wonder how thirty days plus six days can equal a year. The answer is given by Allah in the Quran and explained by the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself.
Allah says: “Whoever comes with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof.” (Quran 6:160)
Thawban (RA) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever fasts six days after Al-Fitr has completed the year, for whoever does a good deed will have the reward of ten like it.” (Ibn Majah 1715, graded authentic by Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban)
The calculation then works like this:
| Fast | Days | Reward multiplied by ten | Equals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramadan | 30 days (or 29) | 300 days | 10 months |
| Six days of Shawwal | 6 days | 60 days | 2 months |
| Total | 36 days | 360 days | A full year |
This is the generosity of Allah in plain numbers. He counts one day as ten for His servants. A person who repeats this every year, Ramadan plus the six days, is written as if he fasted his entire life, year after year, without actually fasting every single day, which the Prophet (peace be upon him) in fact discouraged.
It is also worth noting what the hadith does not say. It promises reward equal to a year of fasting. It does not promise that health problems will vanish or that duas will be answered in a specific worldly form. Keep the promise exactly as the sources state it.
When Should the Six Fasts of Shawwal Start?
The first day of Shawwal is Eid Al-Fitr, and fasting on Eid is forbidden. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade fasting on the day of Al-Fitr and the day of Al-Adha (Sahih Al-Bukhari 1992 and Sahih Muslim 1137). So the earliest possible start is the second day of Shawwal.
From there, the door is open for the rest of the month. The fasts may be kept:
- Straight after Eid, from the 2nd to the 7th of Shawwal
- Spread across the middle of the month
- On Mondays and Thursdays inside Shawwal
- On weekends, for people whose work makes weekday fasting hard
- In the last days of the month, as long as all six are inside Shawwal
Hastening to do a good deed is praised in Islam, and many scholars preferred starting soon after Eid before laziness sets in. But a delayed fast inside the month is still a valid Shawwal fast. The month is the boundary, not the first week.
Must the Six Days Be Consecutive?
No. The hadith says six days of Shawwal. It does not say six connected days. Imam Ahmad was asked about this and replied that there is no harm in fasting them together or separately, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said six days of Shawwal, and whenever a person fasts six days in Shawwal, the description is fulfilled.
The schools of law discussed the finer points:
| View | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Majority of scholars | Consecutive or separate, both valid | The reward applies either way |
| Ash-Shafi and Ahmad (preferred view in their schools) | Soon after Eid and consecutive is better | Based on hastening to good and the wording, follows it |
| Hanafi scholars | Separate days are fine, no dislike | Flexibility for work and family |
| Imam Malik (recorded view) | Disliked joining them directly to Eid day in a fixed public way | He feared people would think the six are part of Ramadan itself. Later Maliki scholars such as Ibn Abd Al-Barr explained this reason, and many Malikis fast the six days |
The practical conclusion is simple. Fast them in the pattern your life allows. A parent with small children may take the weekends. A student may take Mondays and Thursdays. A person with strong habit from Ramadan may finish them in the first week. All of these reach the same promise, by the words of the hadith.
Should Missed Ramadan Fasts Be Made Up First?
This is the most common Shawwal fasting timing question, and it deserves a careful answer because the scholars genuinely differ.
The hadith begins with the words, whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it. One group of scholars understood this in order. Ramadan must be completed first, including any missed days owed, and only then do the six days carry the full described reward. On this view, a person who owes qada fasts should make them up in Shawwal first, then fast the six.
The majority of scholars allowed fasting the six days before making up missed Ramadan fasts, because the time to make up Ramadan fasts is wide. Aishah (RA) said that she would have fasts to make up from Ramadan and could only do so in Shaban, the month just before the next Ramadan (Sahih Al-Bukhari 1950 and Sahih Muslim 1146). The six days of Shawwal, by contrast, expire when the month ends. On this view, a person fasts the six inside Shawwal, then makes up the owed days during the year.
Both views agree on two points. The owed Ramadan fasts are a debt that must be paid before the next Ramadan. And the safest path that leaves the disagreement entirely is to make up the missed days first if they are few and time allows, then fast the six.
One more point needs honesty. Can one fast carry both intentions at once, qada and Shawwal together? The majority of scholars hold that a single fast should not be given both intentions, because each is an independent act of worship. Some scholars allowed overlap in reward when a qada fast falls inside Shawwal. Because of this difference, do not rely on a combined intention. Keep the fasts separate where you can, and for your personal case, ask a scholar you trust.
This question connects to other fasting rules in the Sunnah. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) also set limits around singling out Friday for a voluntary fast. Our pillar guide on the significance of Friday in Islam explains that rule with its evidence, and it is useful if your Shawwal days fall on Fridays.
Shawwal Fasting Benefits Beyond the Year Reward
The reward of a year is the headline, but regular worshippers notice other benefits that scholars and teachers have long pointed out.
It proves the Ramadan change was real. A well known sign that a deed is accepted is that a person continues with good after it. Dropping every habit the morning after Eid suggests the habits belonged to the month. Keeping six fasts says they belonged to Allah.
It protects the habits of Ramadan. Prayer on time, less idle talk, control of the eyes and tongue, all of these fade fast after Eid. Fasting days inside Shawwal act like anchors that hold those habits in place while normal life restarts.
It trains consistency, which Allah loves most. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the most beloved deeds to Allah are the most regular and constant, even if they are small (Sahih Al-Bukhari 6464 and Sahih Muslim 783). Six days a year, kept every year, is exactly that pattern.
It makes voluntary fasting easier for the rest of the year. A person who fasts in Shawwal often finds the Monday and Thursday fasts and the white days far easier to start, because the gap after Ramadan never grew long.
None of these are promises of worldly gain. They are the natural fruit of staying close to an act of worship instead of leaving it for eleven months.
A Simple Plan to Complete the Six Days
Choose one of these patterns before Shawwal starts. A written plan beats a good intention.
Pattern 1: The straight six. Fast from the 2nd to the 7th of Shawwal. Best for those on leave or working from home. You finish before the first full work week returns.
Pattern 2: Mondays and Thursdays. Shawwal usually contains four Mondays and Thursdays combined pairs across about three weeks, plus two extra days of your choice. Best for those who already like these Sunnah days.
Pattern 3: Three weekends. Two fasts each weekend for three weeks. Best for people in physical jobs who cannot fast on workdays.
Pattern 4: The last six days. Fast the final six days of the month. This is valid, but risky, because illness or travel at the end of the month leaves no room to recover missed days. Use it only if the earlier patterns are impossible.
Whichever pattern you choose, tell your family. Shared iftar plans make fasting days easier to keep, and a spouse or parent may join you, which doubles the good in the house.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
Mistake 1: Fasting on Eid day to start early.
Eid day is a day of eating and celebration, and fasting it is forbidden by clear hadith. Start on the second day at the earliest.
Mistake 2: Believing the six days must be consecutive.
As shown above, the hadith does not require this, and Imam Ahmad stated both ways are fine. Do not give up the fasts because a straight six does not fit your life.
Mistake 3: Assuming Shawwal fasts erase missed Ramadan fasts.
They do not. Missed obligatory fasts remain a debt with their own intention, according to the majority. The six days are voluntary and separate.
Mistake 4: Treating the six fasts as compulsory.
They are recommended. There is no sin in leaving them, and no one should be shamed for not fasting them, especially the sick, travellers, pregnant or nursing women, and those with medical conditions. Such people should follow medical advice and scholarly guidance for their own case.
Mistake 5: Stopping all worship after the six days.
The six days are a bridge, not a finish line. Their purpose is to carry Ramadan forward, not to replace the rest of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the hadith about fasting six days of Shawwal authentic?
Yes. The main narration from Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RA) is in Sahih Muslim 1164, and At-Tirmidhi 759 graded its version hasan sahih. The virtue is also reported from several other Companions. The explanation of the reward, ten times for each good deed, comes from the narration of Thawban (RA) in Ibn Majah 1715, graded authentic by Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban.
How is fasting Shawwal equal to fasting a year?
Allah rewards one good deed with ten like it (Quran 6:160). Ramadan has about thirty fasts, which count as three hundred days, equal to ten months. Six days of Shawwal count as sixty days, equal to two months. Ten months plus two months complete a full year of reward, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained in Ibn Majah 1715.
Can I fast the six days of Shawwal separately?
Yes. The hadith does not require the days to be joined. Imam Ahmad said there is no harm in fasting them consecutively or separately, as long as all six fall inside Shawwal. The majority of scholars agree, although some preferred starting soon after Eid as a way of hastening to good.
When do the six fasts of Shawwal start and end?
They start on the second day of Shawwal, because fasting on Eid day is forbidden (Sahih Al-Bukhari 1992). They end when the month of Shawwal ends. All six days must fall inside the month. If the month runs out before you complete them, the specific Shawwal reward no longer applies, though fasting after that is still rewarded as voluntary fasting.
Should I make up missed Ramadan fasts before Shawwal fasts?
Scholars differ. One view says complete Ramadan first, based on the order in the hadith. The majority allow the six days first, because qada can be delayed within the year, as Aishah (RA) did until Shaban (Sahih Muslim 1146), while Shawwal ends soon. The safest path, when days owed are few, is qada first, then the six.
Can I combine qada and Shawwal in one fast?
The majority of scholars say no, because each fast needs its own intention as an independent act of worship. A smaller view allows reward overlap when a qada fast is kept inside Shawwal. To stay clear of the disagreement, keep the fasts separate if you are able, and ask a scholar about your exact situation.
What if I started the six fasts and then became sick or travelled?
Break the fast if you need to. A voluntary fast that is broken for a valid reason carries no sin, and there is a difference among scholars about whether a voluntary fast, once started, must be made up. Simply complete the remaining days later inside Shawwal if the month is still running.
Can women fast the six days of Shawwal?
Yes. The reward is for every Muslim. Women who missed Ramadan days due to menstruation usually have qada to complete as well, so the question of order applies to them most often. Many women fast the six days inside Shawwal and complete their qada during the shorter days of winter, following the majority view.
Is it better to fast the six days early in Shawwal?
Many scholars preferred hastening, because the soul is still close to Ramadan and delay often leads to missing out. But better here means recommended, not required. A person who fasts the six days at the end of the month with sincerity has fulfilled the wording of the hadith.
What if I cannot fast all six days?
Fast what you are able to, and do not despair. The specific promise of a full year is tied to completing Ramadan and six days of Shawwal. A person who fasts fewer days still receives reward for each day fasted, and a person prevented by real illness or a valid excuse is rewarded according to intention and effort, as Allah is the Most Generous.
Conclusion
Fasting six days of Shawwal is a small act with an outsized promise. Thirty days of Ramadan, counted ten times by the mercy of Allah, give ten months. Six more days give the remaining two. The year is complete, and the habits of Ramadan are still alive.
The method is flexible by design. Start after Eid day. Join the days or spread them. Put your missed Ramadan fasts in order, following the scholar you trust. Choose your pattern before the month begins and tell your family.
Ramadan trained you for thirty days. Do not let Eid be the end of that training. Let the six days of Shawwal be the proof that it changed you. Which pattern will you choose this year, the straight six, Mondays and Thursdays, or the weekends? Decide today, while the month is still young.
Sources
- Quran 6:160: a good deed rewarded ten times: quran.com/6/160
- Sahih Muslim 1164: fasting Ramadan then six days of Shawwal equals fasting the year: sunnah.com/muslim:1164
- Jami At-Tirmidhi 759: the same virtue, graded hasan sahih
- Ibn Majah 1715: Thawban (RA) on completing the year, graded authentic by Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban
- Sahih Al-Bukhari 1992 and Sahih Muslim 1137: prohibition of fasting on Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha
- Sahih Al-Bukhari 1950 and Sahih Muslim 1146: Aishah (RA) making up Ramadan fasts in Shaban
- Sahih Al-Bukhari 6464 and Sahih Muslim 783: the most beloved deeds are the most consistent
- Imam Ahmad, Masail Abdullah 895: no harm in fasting the six days joined or separate
