Thus, it is mentioned in a hadith:

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

Translation: “Whoever fasts in Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, all of his previous sins are forgiven.”^[1]

And in another hadith, it is mentioned that, “Whoever fasts in Ramadan and then fasts six days of Shawwal, he emerges from sins as if he has been born anew from his mother’s womb.”^[2]

Virtues of the Six Fasts of Shawwāl

Dear Islamic brothers! From these blessed hadith, we first learn the virtue of the six fasts of Shawwāl. It is mentioned in narrations:

1. “Whoever fasts in Ramadan and then follows it with six fasts in Shawwāl, it is as if he fasted for his entire lifetime.”^[3]

2. “Whoever observes six fasts in Shawwāl after Eid al-Fitr, has observed fasts for the whole year, because one good deed is rewarded tenfold. Thus, the fasts of Ramadan equal ten months, and these six days equal two months, making a full year.”^[4]

When Should the Six Fasts of Shawwāl Be Observed?

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه ! What a great blessing these six fasts of Shawwāl are! اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه, we were granted the ability to observe the fasts of Ramadan. Now that a routine of fasting has already been formed, we should also try to observe the fasts of Shawwāl. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه, the reward of fasting for a lifetime will be granted.

Khalil-e-Millat, Mufti Muhammad Khalil Khan Barkati رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states: “There is no harm if these fasts are observed consecutively after Eid. However, it