Hyderabad: Shawwal fast is added benefit

Hyderabad: If a Muslim fasts for six additional days in the month of Shawwal after fasting during the entire month of Ramzan, it is considered that he has fasted through the year, in terms of reward earned. However, a Muslim is prohibited from fasting on the day of Id-ul-Fitr itself, which falls on the first day of Shawwal.

Islamic scholars suggest that it is always better to first make up for any fast missed due to genuine reasons like illness or travel, during Ramzan by observing the qaza roza of Ramzan before the Shawwal fasting. If health does not permit one to fast even in the month of Shawwal, the qaza roza (fast) of Ramzan can be observed later.

Scholars explained that it is like observing a year of fasting because the reward of one's good deeds is multiplied tenfold in Ramzan. Therefore fasting in the month of Ramzan is like fasting for 10 months and fasting six days in Shawwâl is like fasting for another 60 days.

Jamia Nizamia chancellor Syed Akbar Nizamuddin said many Muslims prefer to begin these six days of fasting from the second day of Shawwal.

“This is done because they get habituated to fasting for a month during Ramzan and observing six more Roza with a gap of one day (Id-ul-Fitr) would be suitable and easy. However, unlike Ramzan fasting, the six days of fasting in Shawwal can be observed on any six days of the month, they don’t have to begin on the day following Id,” he said.

Working Muslims can observe the fast in Shawwal on Saturdays and Sundays or any other days of the week as per their convenience. The fasting in Ramzan is farz and it is nafil (voluntary) in Shawwal.