Komashisha
Siyam (fasting) is one of the main pillars of Islam. As Muslims, we perform mandatory fasting during the month of holy Ramadan. Besides the formal obligatory fasting in Ramadan, we can obtain extra benefits by performing many voluntary (Nafl) fasts including the six fasts of Shawwal, known as the fast of Ashura.
The fasts of Shawwal are like the voluntary (nafl) prayers that accompany obligatory prayers; we perform five times a day. Likewise the voluntary prayers, extra fasts provide extra cover for the deficiencies in the performance of obligatory fasts during Ramadan. On the Day of Judgment, our voluntary acts of worship will compensate for the shortcomings in how we carried out our duties and acts of worship. Narrated Abu Hurayra (Ra.) that, our beloved Prophet (Pbuh) said, “Indeed the first deed by which a servant will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection is his Salat. If it is complete, he is successful and saved, but if it is defective, he has failed and lost. So, if something is deficient in his obligatory (prayers) then Allah will say, ‘Look! Are there any voluntary (prayers) for my worshipper?’ If (s)he did some voluntary prayers, Allah will say, ‘Complete the obligatory actions of my slave from his voluntary actions.’ Then the rest of his deeds will be treated like that.” (Tirmiji). Many of us have deficiencies in performance of the acts of worship. For Ramadan fasts we need to perform voluntary fasts of Shawwal to cover up such deficiencies.
Fasting for six days in the month of Shawwal after Ramadan is very important. These are not Wajib (mandatory) and there are immense rewards for these fasts. Whoever performs these fasts, will get the reward of fasting for a whole year. Abu Ayyub Ansary (Ra.) narrated that the Prophet (Pbuh) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days from Shawwal it is as if they fasted the entire year.” (Sahih Muslim). A Muslim who fasts during Ramadan every year and follows it with six day’s fast of Shawwal, he will be like a person who fasted for a lifetime. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “Whoever comes with a good deed will receive ten times as much to his credit” (Sura Ana`m: 160). Therefore fasting in the month of Ramadan is like fasting for 10 months and fasting for six days in the month of Shawwal is equal to two months of fasting, (6×10=60). This is how the fasts in the month of Shawwal complete a year of fasting. Thawban (Ra.) reported that the Prophet (Pbuh) said, “The fasts of Ramadan are like observing 10 months of fasting. Therefore, fasting for six days of Shawwal is like observing two months of fasting. And together is like fasting throughout the year.” (Sunan Al-Nasai). Thus, we see the wisdom and the reason why the Prophet (Pbuh) mentioned about six days of fasting after Ramadan in Shawwal, not five or seven. One who fasts during Ramadan and fasts for six days in the month of Shawwal, (s)he will be like a person who fasted daily in a whole year although (s)he has not performed fasting entirely for a year. Ubaidullah Ibin Muslim (Ra.) narrated from his father who said, “I asked or someone asked the Prophet (Pbuh) about perpetual fasting. He replied: ‘Your family has a right over you.’ Then he said, ‘Fast Ramadan and following (Shawwal) month, and every Wednesday and Thursday. You will then have fasted daily, as well as broken (the fast).’” (Jame Tirmiji).
Getting into the habit of fasting is a means of giving thanks to Allah for the blessings (Ramadan’s fasting) that we have received. Allah has directed us for thanking Him for the blessings of the Ramadan. Allah says: “(He wants you) to complete the number of (fasting) days, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance you may give thanks.” (Sura Baqara: 185). One’s return to the habit of fasting right after Ramadan is a sign that his/her Ramadan fasts were accepted by Allah. When Allah accepts one’s prayers, He blesses him/her to engage in further acts of piety. The reward of a virtue is further a virtue. Therefore, following one good deed by others is like a sign of the fact in someone that his/her first deed had been accepted by Allah.
It is permissible to perform the fasts of Shawwal at any time during the month of Shawwal, although it is the best to perform those soon after Eid day. These may be performed consecutively (non-break) or separately (with one or more breaks in the middle), what is easier for a person. If someone has missed some of the days of Ramadan for a legitimate reason, (s)he should perform those fasts at first, then perform six fasts in Shawwal. One must complete the fasts of Ramadan, the obligatory fasts, and then go for voluntary ones. If someone performs six fasts of Shawwal in a year and cannot perform the same in the next year for sickness or other reason, there is no punishment.
Jubayer Ahmad
The writer is an Islamic thinker and Khatib, Baitush Shafique Mosque, Board Bazar, Gazipur.
