Question
We have always understood that it is Sunnat to fast six days in Shawwaal. However, a Maulana says that there is no ‘daleel’ for this. He says that one may fast throughout the year and that there is no Sunnah significance for fasting six days in Shawwaal. Is he correct? All our senior Mashaa-ikh had adhered to this practice. Were they all in error?
Answer
In error is the Maulana. His claim that there is no daleel for fasting six days in the month of Shawwaal is baseless and displays gross ignorance. The issue has no relevance to fasting the whole year. There is no merit in this incongruous statement.
This practice is valid and promoted by all of Four Math-habs. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhaan and follows it with Six days in Shawwaal is as if he has fasted the whole year.”
It is indeed surprising for the Maulana to claim that there is no daleel for the Six Fasts of Shawwaal. The Daleel consists of:
The Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
The Unanimous ruling of all Four Math-habs.
The Ta-aamul of our Akaabir Ulama and Mashaa-ikh.
Explaining the view of some Fuqaha who said that it is Makrooh, Badaaius Sanaa’, states: “The Makrooh (practice) is to fast on the Day of Fitr and five days thereafter. However, if one does not fast on the Day of Fitr, but fasts six days thereafter, then it is not Makrooh. On the contrary it will Mustahab and Sunnah.”
Hadhrat Shah Abdul Haqq Dehlawi (Rahmatullah alayh) states in his Maa Thabata Bis Sunnah: “It is authentically establi
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