Two Intentions for Shawwal Fasting – What Scholars Say

As-salamu Alaikum. Is it true that a woman can make up her missed six fasts of Ramadan with the fasting of the six days of Shawwal together?

In this fatwa:

Yes, according to the Shafi’i school of thought, it is permissible to fast six days of Shawwal while making up missed Ramadan fasts, combining both intentions in one act. This is likened to performing multiple acts of worship with a single deed. However, other juristic schools argue that each fast should have a separate intention. While fasting them separately may bring greater rewards, Islamic teachings allow flexibility in such matters.

A woman can make up her missed days of fasting along with fasting the six days of Shawwal according to the rulings of the Shafi`i School of fiqh. They  argue that it is permissible to combine both in one intention and thus reaping the rewards of both.

It is not different from someone entering the mosque, for instance, before Zhuhr prayer before the congregational prayer begins and offering two rakahs of sunnah. By doing so, he stands to gain rewards for the sunnah before Zhuhr as well as that of tahiyyat al-masjid (greeting the mosque).

Having said this, I should also point out that the above view is not shared by other juristic schools. They do not allow for anyone to combine the intention of making up for missed fasts of Ramadan with the optional fasts of Shawwal.

They insist that one needs to have two separate intentions. So, according to this view, one should make up for the fasts missed first, and then independently formulate another intention to fast the six days of Shawwal. One may also fast the sunnah fasts of Shawwal and later make up for the fasts he or she has missed.

It is up to you to choose one of the above views. Although no one can deny that one may stand to gain greater rewards in doing them separately, there is no need to be rigid on this issue, for doing so is akin to limiting Allah’s mercy, which is undoubtedly limitless.

Allah Almighty knows best.

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