[Article] Condition for fasting the six days of Shawwal in presence of the husband

The third question of Fatwa no. 19541

Q 3: I am a religiously committed woman; I observe Sawm (Fast) in Ramadan, the six days of Shawwal, the White Days (13th, 14th, and 15th of every Hijri month), in addition to Mondays and Thursdays. When I intend to observe Sawm during such days, I ask for my husband’s permission first. At the beginning he agrees, but after a while he gets angry about that and exclaims, “Every day Sawm, Sawm!” In this case, is it permissible for me to observe Sawm or not?

A: It is not permissible for you to observe supererogatory Sawm in the presence of your husband without his permission, for his right as a husband over you. May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

  Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member	Member	Member	Deputy Chairman	Chairman
Bakr Abu Zayd	Salih Al-Fawzan	`Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan	`Abdul-`Aziz Al Al-Shaykh	`Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Source: Fatwas of the Permanent Committee

[Article] Is fasting the Day of ‘Arafah and the six days of Shawwal suffice instead of an expiatory fast?

Fatwa no. 10812

Q: Is fasting the six days of Shawwal, the Day of ‘Ashura’ (10th of Muharram), and the Day of `Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah) sufficient

(Part No. 23; Page No. 38)

to expiate for the broken oaths which one cannot remember?

A: The Kaffarah (expiation) for breaking an oath is to free a believing slave, feed ten poor people, or clothe them. If you are unable to do any of that, you should fast for three days for each broken oath.

As for your inability to count the oaths, you should try as hard as possible to remember them and give an approximate number, and then expiate for the broken ones. That would be sufficient to discharge the obligation on your part, In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills). Furthermore, it is insufficient to fast the Day of ‘Ashura’, the Day of `Arafah and the six days of Shawwal for expiating for the broken oaths, unless a person intends to fast them as Kaffarah, not as voluntary fasting.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member	Deputy Chairman	Chairman
`Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan	`Abdul-Razzaq `Afify	`Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Source:  Fatwas of the Permanent Committee

[Article] The claim that fasting the six days of Shawwal is Bid‘ah

147- The false claim that fasting for six days of Shawwal is Bid‘ah


Q: What is your opinion, respected shaykh, regarding people who claim that fasting for six days in Shawwal is Bid‘ah (innovation in religion) and that this is the view of Imam Malik? If they are refuted by the Hadith on the authority of Abu Ayyub, saying: Anyone who fasts Ramadan and then follows it with (fasting) six days of Shawwal it is as if they fasted the whole year they would bring to question the authenticity of one of the narrator in the Isnad (chain of narrators).

A: This claim is Batil (null and void); the Hadith of Abu Ayyub is Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish).

(Part No. 15; Page No. 390)

It also has other supporting narrations, which strengthen it and confirm its meaning. May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Source: Fatwas of Ibn Baz