How to Do the 6 Day Fast After Ramadan: Sunnah, Rules, and Rewards 

The 6 day fast after Ramadan is a powerful yet lesser-known Sunnah with immense spiritual rewards. As Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims will seek means of continuing their connection with Allah and prolonging the spiritual growth they’ve acquired.

In this article, we are going to find out what the 6 day fasting after Ramadan is, its benefits, rulings, and how you can gain the most from it.

What is the 6 Day Fast After Ramadan?

The 6 day fast after Ramadan is fasting six additional days in the Islamic month of Shawwal, which is immediately after the sacred month of Ramadan. It is extremely highly recommended in Islam and is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Although these six fasts are not obligatory, they are extremely rewarding. In a renowned hadith of Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan and then adds to it six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the whole year.” (Sahih Muslim, 1164)

It shows the great value placed on voluntary fasting following the fulfillment of the Ramadan requirement. The fasting in the month of Ramadan is rewarded tenfold, and the six days of Shawwal, or the 6 day fast after Ramadan, are similarly rewarded.

Together, it is similar to fasting for 360 days—the same as a complete lunar year.  Despite that the Qur’an does not directly refer to the 6 day fast after Ramadan, it actually emphasizes the collective reward of fasting and self-worship:

“Whosoever will do a righteous deed, let him multiply as it were unto him.”  (Surah Al-An’am 6:160)

“O you who believe, fasting has been ordained on you as upon those before you that you be righteous.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183)

These verses, together with the Prophet’s words ﷺ, stress that 6 day fasting after Ramadan offers an opportunity to extend the passion of spiritual accomplishment and worship performed in Ramadan. The 6 day fast after Ramadan is a beautiful prolongation of worship, reflecting commitment to Allah even beyond obligatory acts.  

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The Reward of Fasting 6 Days of Shawwal Explained

The 6 day fast after Ramadan during the period after Ramadan offers Muslims a practical tool to stay spiritually grounded even beyond the blessed month.

Fasting during Shawwal is a method of sustaining the blessings and reward of Ramadan and acquiring additional blessings by performing voluntary worship.

1. 6 day fast after Ramadan is similar to a Year of Fasting

Among the finest virtues of 6 day fasting after Ramadan is that it achieves the merit of fasting for a whole year. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“Fasting in the month of Ramadan is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days [of Shawwal] is like fasting two months, so that is like fasting a whole year.” (Ahmad, An-Nasa’i; Sahih)

This hadith demonstrates the boundless generosity of Allah in increasing rewards. Fasting Ramadan (30 days) is increased 10 times = 300 days, and the six days of Shawwal contribute an additional 60 days, adding up to a complete lunar year.

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2. Continues the Spirit of Ramadan

The 6 day fast after Ramadan helps to maintain the spiritual discipline gained during the sacred month. It prevents an immediate spiritual collapse and allows one to slowly return to an ordinary routine without risking distancing from Allah.

The fast keeps the believers steadfast in their acts of worship, according to the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:

“THE MOST BELOVED DEEDS TO ALLAH ARE THOSE WHICH ARE DONE ON A CONSTANT BASIS, EVEN IF THEY ARE SMALL.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6464, Sahih Muslim 783)

3. The 6 day fast after Ramadan is A Sign of Sincerity and Devotion

Voluntary fasting after Ramadan is a reflection of love, sincerity, and eagerness to please Allah. The 6 day fast after Ramadan is such a beautiful way to show that one’s connection with Allah isn’t just in Ramadan.

Voluntary acts like this reflect a heart committed to worship and spiritual growth, which Allah loves and rewards.

4. Forms a Habit of Voluntary Worship

Six days’ fasting in Shawwal helps in the formation of a habit of voluntary worship, e.g., fasting on Thursdays and Mondays or the White Days (13th, 14th, and 15th of every month of the Islamic calendar).

Through the formation of the 6 day fast after Ramadan into a yearly tradition, Muslims are enabled to form an even stronger relationship with Allah and make voluntary actions a routine.

Can You Fast the 6 Days Non-Consecutively?

Yes, you can fast the 6 day fast after Ramadan Non-Consecutively. Whether fasted consecutively or spaced out during the month of Shawwal, the key is to have six days completed before the end of the month, thereby gaining the reward stated in the hadith.  

Combining Missed Ramadan Fasts with Shawwal Fasting

Following Ramadan, some Muslims wonder if one can combine their missed Ramadan fasts with the 6 day fast after Ramadan. This is a frequent question, and scholars have offered contemplative opinions drawing on hadith and Qur’anic instruction.

1. The Distinction Between Qada and Sunnah Fasts

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is fardh (mandatory), while fasting for 6 day fast after Ramadan is Sunnah (voluntary). Fasts missed during the month of Ramadan (known as qada) must be fulfilled, as it has been ordered by Allah:

“.But whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them]—then an equal number of days [are to be made up].” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184)

This verse allocates the duty of catching up on lost fasts. Fasting the six days of Shawwal, however, is based on the following hadith:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted a lifetime.” (Sahih Muslim 1164)

In order to gain the reward of the 6 day fast after Ramadan, one has to finish the Ramadan fasts first. That leads us to the scholarly discussion.

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View 1: Do Not combine – Missed Fast Days First, Then Shawwal

Many scholars from the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools maintain that to gain the full reward of the 6 day fast after Ramadan, one must first complete all the missed fasts of Ramadan. They argue that the hadith clearly states, “Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it.”—meaning a full, completed Ramadan is required before adding the Shawwal six days.

Thus, in this view, combining is not permissible, and one must first fast the omitted Ramadan days and then fast the six days separately in Shawwal.

View 2: Combining is Permissible – with One Intention

There are certain scholars like the Hanafi school and modern scholars like Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah and Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen who allow the intention of making up lost fasts to be mixed with the 6 day fast after Ramadan.  

They reason that since voluntary fasts are not obligatory, and both intentions are good, one can hope to get the reward of both by combining. However, they also recommend that it is preferable to keep the fasts apart in order to reap a full reward and intention clarity.

3. What Do You Do?

If you can keep the six days of Shawwal and the missed days of Ramadan as independent fasts, that is the best and ensures that you acquire the full reward of the 6 day fast after Ramadan without any doubt.

If time is constrained (particularly on women with many days to catch up), and you are concerned about missing out on the Shawwal window, you may commence the fasts with sincere intentions, praying in the best form of Allah, keeping in view the fact that fasting is already a virtuous act of devotion.

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Conclusion

The 6 day fast after Ramadan is a beautiful Sunnah with great spiritual benefit and is meant to assist believers in maintaining the pace of faith gained during the blessed month.

Whether you fast them consecutively or spaced-out during Shawwal, they reflect your steady intention to worship and express gratitude to Allah.

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FAQs

Can I still fast if I missed Suhoor?

Yes, you can still fast if you missed Suhoor, as it is not a requirement for the fast to be valid.

Is my fast invalid if I miss Fajr?

No, your fast is still valid if you miss Fajr prayer, but you should make up the prayer as soon as possible.