What is Shawwal fasting all about?
We’ve all heard about fasting in Shawwal, so why do we do it?
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari RA narrated that Rasulullah ﷺ said:
“Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will be (rewarded) as if he had fasted the entire year.” [Muslim]
Should I do my fasting consecutively?
Nope, although it is recommended to do so earlier on in Shawwal as our bodies have already adapted to the consecutive fasting of Ramadan, also to prevent ourselves from running out of days to fast if we space out our fasting.
What if I did not complete six days of fasting?
Allah will still reward us for the fasting that we managed to do even if we would not get the complete and full reward. As Allah said in a Hadith Qudsi: “The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it.” [Bukhari]
Do I have to pray Terawih?
Nope! Terawih prayers are exclusive to the month of Ramadan itself. However we can always pray Tahajjud instead to help us wake up before Sahur for our Shawwal fasting.
I was doing my Shawwal fasting but my friends wanted to go eat buffet at Seoul Garden for lunch. Can I break my fast?
Yes! Shawwal fasting is a Sunnah fasting; it’s not obligatory like fasting in Ramadan so there is no sin in breaking it. Bear in mind though that this means you did not complete a day of fasting, so if you want to hit the 6 days of Shawwal, you’re gonna have to fast another day again.
