The narrator states, “Smoke was never seen coming from the house of Abū Umāmah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ during the daytime except when guests arrived.” (i.e. he would not eat during the day due to fasting.)^[1]

Three virtues of the 6 fasts of Shawwāl

Sinless like a new-born

1.   Whoever kept the fasts of Ramaḍān and follows it with six fasts in Shawwāl exits from sin in such a manner as though his mother gave birth to him today.^[2]

Like fasting a lifetime

2.   Whoever fasts in Ramaḍān and follows it with six fasts in Shawwāl, it is like he fasted his entire life.^[3]

Fasting throughout the year

3.   Whoever fasts six days after Eid al-Fiṭr (in Shawwāl) has fasted the entire year, because whoever brings one good deed will receive ten rewards. Thus, the fasting of Ramaḍān is equal to 10 months and these 6 days are equal to 2 months, so that is the fasting of an entire year.^[4]

When should the 6 fasts of Shawwāl be kept?

Dear Islamic brothers! It is better if these fasts are kept separated, and if they are kept consecutively following the day of Eid, there is no harm in that either.^[5]