Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salams Brother Burhan,

I have been fasting for the past three days for the month of Shawal, I also need to complete the leftover days of fasting from the month of Ramadan.  When I started fasting after the Eid I did niyat for Shawal and have been fasting with this in mind.  Yesterday I was watching a program on the Q TV, according to them one must complete the leftover (Qaza) days of Ramadan before the 6 days of nawafil of Shawal.

Please explain me the following:

Does this mean my three days of fasting will not be considered? If they are accepted/considered, will they be as for Shawal or for Ramadan?

Do I have start fasting again? i.e. complete the leftover days of Ramadan and then fast six days again for Shawal.

An early response will be highly appreciated.

Thank you very much for your help.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Fasting with intention for shawwal

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If one has perchance missed some days of one’s obligatory fasts of Ramadan, it is obviously best that priority be given to fulfill these missed obligatory fasts before one observes voluntary fasts.

Your Question: ….Does this mean my three days of fasting will not be considered?

If your intention in observing the three fasts were for the voluntary fasts of Shawwal, then they will be considered according to your intention.

Your Question: ….If they are accepted/considered, will they be as for Shawal or for Ramadan?

Because your intention was to observe the voluntary fasts of Shawwal, they will be accepted as your voluntary fasts.

Your Question: ….Do I have start fasting again? i.e. complete the leftover days of Ramadan and then fast six days again for Shawal.

The six voluntary fasts of Shawwal need not be kept on consecutive days; one is at liberty to observe them anytime during the month of Shawwal. If you have for whatever reason already observed three of the six fasts of Shawwal, you should now make intention to fulfill your missed days of obligatory fasts first, and after you have fulfilled the missed obligatory fasts, you may, if you so will, fulfill the balance fasts of Shawwal.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan