Lecture Notes: Fasting the Six Days of Shawwal

Introduction

• Blessings and Gratitude: Opening remarks include prayers for consistency in good deeds and carrying forward the gains from Ramadan.

Fasting the Six Days of Shawwal

• Prophet's (PBUH) Hadith: Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal is as if they fasted the entire year.
• Interpretations:
  • Majority view: Fast six days within Shawwal itself.
  • Minor opinion: Six days can be any time after Ramadan, as good deeds are multiplied by 10.

Timing and Order of Fasts

• Completion of Ramadan Fasts:
  • If you have missed days from Ramadan, prioritize making them up before fasting Shawwal.
  • Another view: Shawwal fasts are time-sensitive, while Ramadan make-ups can be done anytime during the year.

Combining Intentions

• Combining Make-up with Shawwal Fasts:
  • A minor and weak opinion allows combining obligatory make-up fasts with voluntary Shawwal fasts.
  • Default rule: Cannot combine obligatory and voluntary fasts.

Practical Approaches

• Strategies:
  • Fast as soon as possible after Eid.
  • Use Shawwal fasting to establish the habit of fasting on Sunnah days (Mondays, Thursdays, 13th, 14th, 15th of the lunar month).

Recommended Practices

• Infusing Ramadan Practices into Shawwal:
  • Maintain habits like Quran reading and night prayers from Ramadan during Shawwal fasts.
• Prayer for Acceptance: Seek Allah's help to fast these days and gain the reward as if fasting a lifetime.

Fasting on Fridays and Saturdays

• Rule: Avoid singling out Fridays and Saturdays unless there's a pre-existing reason to fast.
• Allowed Situations:
  • Fasting every other day pattern (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday).
  • Specific days like the Day of Arafah.

Questions & Answers

• Friday Fasting:
  • Allowed if part of a sequence or for a specific reason.

Conclusion

• Reminder: Return for upcoming religious gatherings and events.