The blessings of the month of Ramadhan are so numerous to mention yet days are numbering to reach eid day marking end of the holy month of Ramadhan. After this month there is yet another fasting in the month of Shawwal that is as well essential to those who have ‘taq’wa.’
Fasting 6 days of Shawwal is mentioned in a prophetic hadeeth. The prophet Muhammad (SAW) said’whoever fasted in the month of Ramadhan and then followed up with 6 fasting days in Shawwal. It is as if is fasting every day’(Muslim)
This means that reward is like the reward of a person who is always in fast everyday of his life.
In another narration, prophet (SAW)said, he who fasts during the month of Ramadhan and follows it with 6 days of Shawwal will be rewarded as if fasting for the who year .(reported by Muslim)
It should also be noted that it is highly recommended to fast 6 days of Shawwal but it is not obligatory to muslims. Fasting is accepted during your convenient days of Shawwal if it is difficult to to it continuously just after Eid Al Fitr.
It is prohibited to fast during the day of Eid so fasting can commence any day starting from 2nd day of the month of Shawwal.
Fasting in Shawwal can also portray a good picture to those who are non muslims because despite the end of month of Ramadhan, you are not hurrying joining them eating. This can as well indicate that the training conducted during the month of Ramadhan is to be observed after wards.
Therefore muslims have to observe the fasting during this month of Shawwal for the sake of blessings from Allah Subhanna Wata’la
Wasalaam alayikoum warahmatullah wabarakatuh
