Question:
Is it permissible to replace missed fast along with 6 days of Syawal fasting?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The Rewards of Six Days of Syawal Fasting
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ
“He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. It would be as if he fasted perpetually.”
Sahih Muslim (1164), Jami` at-Tirmidhi (759), Sunan Abi Dawud (2433), Sunan Ibn Majah (1716), Ahmad and others. Imam al-Tirmidhi: The status of this hadith is hassan.
This shows that a day fasting in Ramadhan represents 10 days. Hence, when they are added by six more days in Syawal, then it becomes 360 days. This is the interpretation of some scholars.
The Ruling of Replacing Fast Along with 6 Days Syawal Fasting
In this issue, the scholars have differing opinion:
FIRST: VALID
- The fasting is valid and it is applied for both; the replacement and the sunnah fasting. This is the opinion of:
- Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haitami
- Syeikh Muhammad Ramli. Refer al-Nihayah(1/162) and Fatawa al-Ramli (2/339)
- Imam al-Barizi. Refer al-Ashfah wa al-Nazhair (1/161)
- Syeikhul Islam Syeikh Zakaria al-Ansari in Haasyiah al-Syarqawi ala al-Tahrir (1/427)
- This is also the opinion of the contemporary scholars
SECOND: INVALID
- Invalid only for the ruling of the Sunnah fasting (six days of Syawwal). Hence, the replacement fasting is valid. This is the opinion of:
- Imam al-Asnawi
- Syeikh Ibn al-Solah
- Abu Makhramah
- Refer Bughiah al-Mustarsyidin(3/95-96)
- Their ruling is as such because two worships cannot be combined into one.
Tarjih
After observing these two opinions and their judgements, we are inclined to the opinion which says that it is permissible and both fasts are considered valid. It is because, these two are the same form of ibadah, but with different intention. This is also the opinion of some scholars through their observation and analyzation of evidences. However, the best practice is separating both fasting to avoid the disagreement (khilaf).
Imam Ibn Hajar said that the rewards are granted although it is not in the perfect form if the person makes intention for both (replacement and Sunnah fasting). Refer al-Tuhfah (3/390)
May this explanation gives us understanding in this issue.