Title: Benefits of fasting six days in Shawwal(Sital Shawwal)


Fasting; simply known as the abstinence from eating and drinking is one of the five pillars of Islam which enjoins Muslims all over the world to perform the act with piety and faithfulness to Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala), as HE ordained in the Holy Quran - 'O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may be Al-Muttaqoon (the pious) - Q2:183. Hence, it becomes mandatory for Muslims to engage in fasting, which can be categorize into two types; the obligatory fasting (such as fasting in the month of Ramadan) and the recommended fasting (such as fasting on Monday and Thursday, fasting six days in shawwal etc.)

In this article, I will like to lay emphasis on one of the recommended fasting -Sital Shawwal -six days of fasting in Shawwal- and its benefits with proper references to the various Hadiths and Quran verses. Take a stroll with me, please.


One of the greatest goals of fasting is Taqwa meaning Piousness or consciousness of Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala). In reference to Q2:183, which was stated above, one of the reasons why Allah (SWT) has ordained fasting is to make us Al-Muttaqoon - one who is pious - and you will agree with me that one who Allah has opportune to be pious will tend to avoid all forms of devilish acts such as adultery, stealing, drinking and other forms of personal and social vices.


Secondly, as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said 'fasting is a shield' as reported by Saheeh Bukharee which can also be networked with the fear of Allah, in the sense that one who is pious will tend to beseech Allah from time to time against all evil acts fashioned against him and surely Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) is near and hears his believers as HE said in the Quran – “Allah's help is near” -Q2:214. Likewise, being pious will enable one to be honourable in the sight of Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala), as he said in the Quran – “Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is the believer that has At-taqwa” - Q49:13.


Thirdly, according to various scholars of Islam, Shawwal fasting is considered as a form of Nafil to supplement the fasting done in the month of Ramadan, as none is a master of perfection except Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala), who in his infinite mercy, as disclosed by Prophet Muhammad (salal ali wa salam) that “The first thing which people will be brought to account for on the day of resurrection will be their Solah (prayer), our Lord, may He be glorified and exalted will say to his angels - although he knows best - look at the Solah of my slave whether it is complete or incomplete, if it is perfect, it will be recorded as perfect and if something is lacking, He will say - look and see whether my slave did any voluntary (nafil) prayers- if he did some voluntary actions, Allah will say, complete the obligatory actions of my slave from his involuntary actions. Then, all his actions will be dealt with in the same manner ' - Abu Dawud. The six days of fasting in Shawwal might be used as a supplement, In Sha Allah.

Lastly, which is arguably, most widely known and appreciated is the one based on various hadiths that says “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted for the entire year' - Saheeh Muslim.


May Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) be praised. Imagine, a year! Now, lets assume one lives for forty years and observes Ramadan and Sital-Shawwal completely for twenty-eight years out of forty, that means he has perform fasting for the whole of twenty-eight years -Allah A'lam. How awesome and great the reward of such person will be? Neither you nor I have the idea, as Allah's reward is far beyond our imagination.


With these few days of shawwal to go, it is never too late for us to gain these benefits with just 144hours out of 720hours of the month. May Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) ease our affairs and make us people of Jannah (paradise). And may HE forgive the errors in my thoughts and words, (Aamin).


Thank you for taking this stroll with me.

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