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Question: [Statements] have recently appeared – particularly via means of communication – from those who say there is no evidence to support fasting six days in Shawwaal, and [instead] it has come to interrupt the ‘Eed of the Muslims, so what is your opinion regarding this speech?
Response: This is false speech.
Fasting [any] six [days] during Shawwaal has been [firmly] established in the authentic narration of the Messenger ﷺ that hesaid:
…and that is because good deeds are multiplied tenfold.
So [fasting] the month of Ramadhaan is [rewarded] as if [one has fasted for] ten months, and [fasting] the six days [of Shawwaal] is [rewarded] as if [one has fasted for the remaining] two months; and [in total] these are the months of the year; 12 months – so it is as if he has fasted the [whole] year.
[And what this means is by doing so] he has attained the reward as if he has fasted the whole year – because good deeds are multiplied tenfold.
And this is from the Bounty of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) and it indicates the desirability of fasting these six [fasts] of Shawwaal – following on from [having fasted] the month of Ramadhaan – in order that the Muslim attains the complete reward.
And whoever denies the fasting of these six [days of Shawwaal], or finds this problematic, then [clearly] this hadeeth has not reached him; [clearly] this hadeeth has not reached him.
And this [hadeeth] is a proof against him, and because of this regarding Imaam Maalik (rahima-hullaah) they said he was not of the opinion, or [rather] it was attributed to him that he was not of the opinion to fast these six [days of Shawwaal] they said the hadeeth had not reached him then this hadeeth is [indeed] in the Saheeh [of Muslim] and all Praise is due to Allaah [alone].
Yes.
Translator’s note
[1] Imaam Maalik said: “Truly I am only a mortal: I make mistakes (sometimes) and I am correct (sometimes). Therefore, look into my opinions: all that which agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, accept it; and all that does not agree with the Book and the Sunnah, ignore it.” [Ibn ‘Abdul Barr in Jaami’ Bayaan al-‘Ilm (2/32), Ibn Hazm, quoting from the former in Usool al-Ahkaam (6/149), and similarly al-Fulaanee (page 72)]
