Moreover, their view implies that whoever does not fast six days of Shawwal is not among the righteous. This is mistaken, for once a person fulfils his obligatory duties, he is undoubtedly righteous, though some degrees of righteousness are more complete than others.

Furthermore, the sunnah is to fast them after completing the make-up fasts for Ramadan, not before. Thus, if someone owes make-up fasts and then fasts the six days before making them up, he does not attain their reward; for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan...” A person who still has some of it remaining cannot rightly be said to have fasted Ramadan; rather, he has fasted part of it.

This issue is not based on the difference of opinion concerning voluntary fasting before making up the missed fasts, for this voluntary fast—namely, fasting the six days—was qualified by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with the condition that it be after Ramadan. Some people have mistakenly imagined that it is based on the disagreement over the validity of voluntary fasting before making up the missed fasts of Ramadan. The differing views on that have already been mentioned, and we explained that the stronger opinion is that voluntary fasting is permissible and valid, so long as the time does not become too limited to make up the missed fasts.

Note: If one delays fasting the six days of Shawwal beyond the beginning of the month and does not hasten to observe them, this is permissible, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “then follows it with six days of Shawwal.” Its apparent meaning is that, as long as the six days are within Shawwal, there is no harm even if they are delayed beyond the beginning of the month. However, hastening to fast them consecutively is better than delaying and separating them, because it involves being swift in doing good. The day of Eid is excluded from the author’s statement, “six days of Shawwal,” since it is not permissible to fast on that day.

Question: If someone is unable to fast the six days in Shawwal due to an excuse, such as illness or having to make up all of Ramadan after Shawwal has ended, should he make them up and be granted their reward, or should it be said that they are a sunnah whose proper time has passed and therefore are not to be made up?