Fasting the Six Days of Shawwal: A British Muslim Family's Guide (UK 2026)
By abdelrahman on 12/22/2025 · 4 min read
The six days of Shawwal — the month immediately after Ramadan — carry one of the most rewarded voluntary fasts in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal will be as if he fasted the entire year" (Sahih Muslim 1164). For British Muslim families that have just completed the discipline of Ramadan, the Six of Shawwal is the spiritual completion of the month. This UK guide explains the rules, the spiritual mathematics, and how British families fit them into post-Ramadan school and work schedules.
The hadith and its meaning
The Prophet ﷺ explained the multiplier in another narration: "Fasting Ramadan is like fasting ten months [in reward], and fasting six days afterwards is like fasting two months. Together they equal a full year." (Sunan al-Nasa'i 2861, sahih)
This is based on the Quranic principle that good deeds are multiplied by ten (Surah Al-An'am 6:160). Ramadan (29-30 days) × 10 = 300 days. Six Shawwal × 10 = 60 days. Together = 360 days — approximately a full lunar year. Whoever maintains both, every year, is in effect fasting their entire life by the Quran's reward calculus.
When to fast the six days
Anytime during the lunar month of Shawwal, except the day of Eid ul-Fitr (the 1st of Shawwal, when fasting is forbidden). So the window is the 2nd to the 30th of Shawwal — about 28 days available to fit six fasts.
Three practical patterns:
Six consecutive days starting 2nd of Shawwal. The most rapid approach — finish the obligation in the first week post-Eid.
Two fasts a week (Mondays and Thursdays) for three weeks. Aligns with the Prophet's regular voluntary Monday-and-Thursday fasts.
Three fasts a week for two weeks. A middle pace.
All three approaches receive the full reward as long as all six are completed within Shawwal.
UK practical considerations
Shawwal often falls in spring or summer. The fasts are longer than the Ramadan winter fasts of recent years but shorter than peak summer Ramadan. Manageable for healthy adults and older children.
Children's fasts in Shawwal. If your child fasted during Ramadan, the Shawwal fasts are a continuation of the discipline. Optional for them but recommended.
Workplace planning. Most UK employers will not specifically accommodate Shawwal fasts (unlike Ramadan), so plan demanding work for non-fasting days.
Make-up days first. If you missed days during Ramadan due to illness, period, travel, etc., the classical Sunni position is: make up the missed Ramadan days BEFORE doing the Shawwal voluntary fasts. The Shawwal six fasts are conditional on having completed Ramadan; making up missed Ramadan days fulfills that condition.
Common scholarly questions
Can I combine Shawwal fasts with other voluntary fasts?
Yes. If your make-up Ramadan fast falls on a Monday in Shawwal, you can intend both (Hanafi position; some other madhhabs split this). Many scholars also accept combined intention with Monday-Thursday fasts.
Do the six days have to be consecutive?
No. The hadith does not specify consecutive. Spread them or do them together as you prefer.
What if I started but couldn't complete the six?
Whatever days you completed are still rewarded as voluntary fasts. The six-day completion is a specific reward, but partial Shawwal fasting is also meritorious.
The spiritual purpose
Beyond the multiplied reward, the Six of Shawwal serves as:
Continuity. Ramadan's discipline is sustained for one more week, preventing the post-Eid spiritual slump.
Gratitude. A practical thanks for the gift of Ramadan.
Repair. Any deficiencies in your Ramadan fasts (lapses in Tajweed, lack of full focus, missed Tarawih) are partially compensated by the additional fasting.
Family bonding. Shawwal iftars are often warmer and more relaxed than Ramadan iftars (no time pressure for Tarawih), making them excellent family meals.
How Eaalim helps British Muslim families through Shawwal
Many UK Muslim families maintain increased Quran practice through Shawwal. Eaalim's online lessons continue normally. Lessons are 30 minutes (15-20 for under-7s), GMT/BST, in pounds, free real trial. Start here.
Frequently asked questions
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ShareFrequently Asked Questions
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal will be as if he fasted the entire year' (Sahih Muslim 1164). The mathematics: each good deed is rewarded ten-fold (Surah Al-An'am 6:160). Ramadan (29-30 days) × 10 = 300 days. Six Shawwal × 10 = 60 days. Together = 360 days, approximately a full lunar year. Maintained yearly, this is a tremendous accumulated reward.
Anytime during Shawwal except the day of Eid ul-Fitr (1st of Shawwal, when fasting is forbidden). Window: 2nd to 30th of Shawwal, giving about 28 days to fit six fasts. UK practical patterns: six consecutive days starting 2nd of Shawwal; two fasts a week (Mondays and Thursdays) for three weeks; or three a week for two weeks. All three approaches receive the full reward as long as completed within Shawwal.
No, the hadith does not specify consecutive. UK Muslim families can spread them out (one or two a week) or do them in a block. The full reward is for completing six within the month of Shawwal, regardless of pattern. The Mondays-and-Thursdays pattern aligns with the Prophet's regular voluntary fasting and may be easier to sustain alongside UK work and school.
Yes, the classical Sunni position is to make up the missed Ramadan days BEFORE doing the voluntary Shawwal fasts. The Shawwal six are conditional on having completed Ramadan; making up missed Ramadan days fulfils that condition. UK Muslim women who missed days due to menstruation should typically make those up first within the same Shawwal month if possible.
Yes, in many cases. If your make-up Ramadan fast falls on a Monday in Shawwal, you can intend both (Hanafi position; some other madhhabs split this). Many scholars also accept combined intention with the regular Monday-Thursday voluntary fasts. The most cautious approach is to keep make-up Ramadan fasts separate from voluntary Shawwal fasts; the more lenient position allows combined intentions.
They follow whatever the season dictates. Shawwal often falls in spring or summer. Length varies: in winter, ~10-11 hours; in summer, up to 19 hours. UK families should plan around the season — easier in winter, more challenging in summer. Healthy adults and older children typically manage well; younger children, pregnant women, and the elderly should not push themselves on long summer Shawwal fasts.
If your child fasted during Ramadan, the Shawwal six are a meritorious continuation. Optional but recommended for children who managed Ramadan. Treat as voluntary and do not pressure — the goal is to build a habit of voluntary fasting, not to exhaust the child. Children who fast Mondays and Thursdays year-round often complete the Shawwal six naturally as part of that pattern.
Most UK employers do not specifically accommodate Shawwal fasts (unlike Ramadan, where many employers offer flexibility). Plan demanding work meetings, presentations, and physical tasks for non-fasting days. UK Muslims working in physical labour (NHS, construction, hospitality) may need to skip the Shawwal six in summer; the fardh Ramadan fast is the obligation, the Shawwal six is voluntary and conditional on capability.
Four main purposes. (1) Continuity — Ramadan's discipline is sustained for one more week, preventing the post-Eid spiritual slump. (2) Gratitude — a practical thanks for the gift of Ramadan. (3) Repair — any deficiencies in your Ramadan fasts (lapses in focus, missed Tarawih, weak Quran recitation) are partially compensated. (4) Habit-building — the Shawwal six establishes the pattern of voluntary fasting that ideally continues year-round (Mondays and Thursdays, the three white days, etc.).
After completing Shawwal, the established Sunnah voluntary fasts continue: (1) Mondays and Thursdays (the Prophet's regular pattern, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 745); (2) the three white days each lunar month (13th, 14th, 15th, when the moon is full, Sunan an-Nasa'i 2422); (3) the day of Arafah (9 Dhul-Hijjah, expiates two years of sins, Sahih Muslim 1162); (4) the day of Ashura (10th of Muharram, expiates one year of sins, Sahih Muslim 1162). Eaalim's content covers each of these in detail.
