The Six Days of Shawwal refers to a recommended (Sunnah) fast of any six days during the month of Shawwal, after the day of Eid al-Fitr. These six days may be fasted consecutively starting from the 2nd of Shawwal, or spread throughout the month according to one’s convenience.

The merit of this fast is rooted in a clear hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year.” (Sahih Muslim). The classical commentators explain that a good deed is rewarded ten times – so thirty days of Ramadan are like three hundred days, and six days of Shawwal are like sixty days, completing the equivalent of a full lunar year.

There is some discussion among the schools about whether someone with missed Ramadan fasts (qada’) should first make up the obligatory fasts before starting the Six of Shawwal. The majority view in the Shafi’i, Hanbali, and Hanafi schools is that the qada’ fasts should be completed first, as the obligatory takes precedence over the voluntary. The Maliki school permits combining them with a single intention.

The Six Days of Shawwal cannot be fasted on the 1st of Shawwal itself, which is the day of Eid al-Fitr; fasting on Eid is prohibited (Sahih al-Bukhari). The earliest day on which the Sunnah fast can begin is therefore the 2nd of Shawwal.

The Six Days of Shawwal also align with the Qur’anic encouragement to follow worship with more worship: “So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing.” (Surah ash-Sharh 94:7-8). They are a way of confirming that the spiritual habits of Ramadan are not abandoned the moment the obligation ends.