Fasting six days of Shawwal has great benefits, and this is explained in Prophet sayings as it was mentioned that there’s a great reward for fasting these only six days in Shawal after Ramadan. This is evidenced by what was mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet – may God bless him and grant him peace – in which he said:
Abu Ayyub (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who observes As-Saum (the fasts) in the month of Ramadan, and also observes As-Saum for six days in the month of Shawwal, it is as if he has observed As-Saum for the whole year.”
[Sahih Muslim]
Based on the greatness of the reward for fasting six days of the month of Shawwal, and the increase in goodness and Thawab, and the indication that God – glory be to Him – granted that gift of extra Fasting to every Muslim after completing the fasting of the blessed month of Ramadan, all of that can’t be for no reason.
That’s why now we will mention the fascinating reasons behind such a great opportunity which is fasting six days in Shawal after Ramadan. And here are the reasons:
1-Compensation for the deficiency that might be happened in our obligatory Fasting during the month of Ramadan:
A Muslim is sometimes weakened by his passions and desires. Sometimes he falls into a lack of worship, and at other times he neglects duties or commits a sin that prevents him from fulfilling his fast in the required manner. Therefore, God Almighty honored the Muslims with the great opportunity to fast these six days, to compensate for the deficiency that occurred in his acts of worship during the month of Ramadan. Fasting these days is similar to performing Supererogatory/ nafl prayers, which make up for the deficiency in the obligatory prayer.
Prophet (ﷺ):) The first thing about which the people will be called to account out of their actions on the Day of Judgment is prayer. Our Lord, the Exalted, will say to the angels – though He knows better: Look into the prayer of My servant and see whether he has offered it perfectly or imperfectly. If it is perfect, that will be recorded perfectly. If it is defective, He will say: See there are some optional prayers offered by My servant. If there are optional prayers to his credit, He will say: Compensate the obligatory prayer by the optional prayer for My servant. Then all the actions will be considered similarly.
[Sahih Al-Albani]
2-An indication of the acceptance of your fasting in Ramadan:
A Muslim’s fasting after the end of the month of Ramadan is considered evidence of the acceptance of his/her fasting in the month of Ramadan. The success of a Muslim to performing obedience after obedience is a sign of its acceptance from God – glory be to Him -, and on the other hand, whoever follows his obedience by sin, this is an indication of the non-acceptance of the obedience that preceded it, and it is considered that Fasting after the end of the month of Ramadan as a matter of thanking the servant to his Lord – Almighty and Subliming – for his help in fasting the blessed Ramadan, and Muslim’s desire to continue to draw close to him and to increase the performance of obedience and closeness.
{Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful.} Surat Al-Baqra verse 185
3- An opportunity to draw close to God:
Voluntary fasting is considered evidence of the Muslim’s true love for Allah. So he/she performs acts of obedience, and that’s an indication of their desire to continue performing fasting even in Shawal. That’s why, fasting these six days is considered an opportunity for a Muslim who wants to elevate his position with God – glory be to Him and the Almighty – as it came in the Divine hadith narrated by the Prophet Muhammad – may God bless him and grant him peace – on the authority of God – glory be to Him:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Verily Allah ta’ala has said: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge.’ ”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]