yet fasted it; he has merely observed some of its days. Whoever still owes one day has in fact fasted only twenty-nine, and whoever owes two days has fasted twenty-eight; he has not completed the full month. Meanwhile the Messenger of Allah ﷺ says, “Whoever fasts Ramadan….” Thus, when you have truly fasted Ramadan and then add six days from Shawwal, it is as though you have fasted the whole year.

It makes no difference whether you begin those six on the second day of Eid al-Fiṭr and keep them consecutive, begin after two or three days, observe them successively, or spread them out: the matter is broad and accommodating. However, if you are careless and allow Shawwal to finish before fasting them, you will not receive that reward—except for one who has a valid excuse, such as illness, postpartum bleeding, or travel. Such a person may make them up in Dhu al-Qaʿdah without blame.