Starting The Six Days of Shawwāl Fasts For One who Has A Missed Days To Make Up From Ramadān (Fasts)
Praise be to Allāh
Fasting six days of Shawwāl is dependent upon having completed the Ramadān fast, according to the correct view. This is indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him): “Whoever fasts Ramadān then follows it with six days of Shawwāl, it will be as if he fasted a lifetime.” [Narrated by Muslim, 1164].
The conjunction 'then' indicates that this must be done in this order. This indicates that the fast of Ramadān must be completed first (by observing the Ramadān fast and making up any missed fasts), then after that, one may fast the six days of Shawwāl, so as to attain the reward mentioned in the hadeeth.
If someone has missed some of the days of Ramadān, he should fast them first, then fast six days of Shawwāl, because he cannot follow the fast of Ramadān with six days of Shawwāl unless he has completed his Ramadān fast.
As regards preceding the missed fast (obligatory actions) with the six days of Shawwāl fasts, the scholars differed concerning the ruling on observing voluntary fasts before making up missed fasts. But the one that is most correct is that, it is permissible so long as the time is not short.
They said: So long as there is sufficient time, it is permissible to observe optional fasts, just as one may perform optional prayers before praying an obligatory prayer. This is the view of the majority of fuqaha (jurists), and was the view favoured by ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen, who said: “This is the most correct view, and his fast is valid and he is not a sinner, because this is a clear analogy… And Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days’ [al-Baqarah 2:185]
This means that he has to make up (the missed fasts) on other days, but Allah did not stipulate that they must be consecutive days; if He had stipulated that, then they would have had to be made up immediately. This indicates that there is some room for maneuver in this matter.” [End quote]
If one wants to earn the reward mentioned in the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Whoever fasts Ramadān then follows it with six days of Shawwāl, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime” (reported by Muslim, no. 1984), then one should complete the Ramadān fasts first, then follow it with six days of Shawwāl, so that the hadeeth with be applicable to one too, and one will gain the reward mentioned in it.
As regards the matter of permissibility, it is permissible to delay making up of Ramadān fasts, provided that one makes them up before the next Ramadān comes along.
And Allāh is the source of strength. May Allāh bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.
0 Comments