QUESTION: Is it permissible to fast the six days of Shawwaal before making up days that I did not fast in Ramadaan, if there is not enough time left in the month to do both?
ANSWER: Praise be to Allaah. Fasting six days of Shawwaal is dependent upon having completed the Ramadaan fast, according to the correct view. This is indicated by the words of the Prophet (sallaallahu alayhi wa sallam): "Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as ifhe fasted a lifetime." (Muslim).
The conjunction thumma (then) indicates that this must be done in this order. This indicates that the fast of Ramadaan must be completed first (by observing the Ramadaan fast and making up any missed fasts), then after that one may fast the six days of Shawwaal, so as to attain the reward mentioned in the hadeeth. The one who still owes missed Ramadaan fasts is said to have fasted part of Ramadaan; we cannot say .that he has fasted Rarnadaan.
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen was asked: What if a woman owes days from Ramadaan - is it permissible for her to give precedence to fasting the six days of Shawwaal over making up the days she owes, or should she give priority to the days she owes over fasting the six days of Shawwaal? He replied: If a woman still owes days from Ramadaan, then she should not fast the six days of Shawwaal until after she has made up what she owes, because the Prophet (sallaallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal... " Whoever still has days to make up from Ramadaan has not fasted Ramadaan, so she will not attain the reward of fasting the six days of Shawwaal until after she has finished making up the days she owes. [Majmooal-Fataawa, 20/19.]
In addition to that, it is obligatory to make up missed fasts for the one who had an excuse, indeed that is part of this pillar of Islam. Based on this, hastening to do it and to discharge this duty takes priority over doing actions that are mustahabb. (Recommended)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited