Fatwa No : 85157
Ruling on Fasting Six Days of Shawwal

Ruling on Fasting Six Days of Shawwal

I want to investigate the matter regarding the fatwa on Islamic banking, which was issued by four hundred scholars of Pakistan in August 2008. I saw a letter by Mufti Taqi Usmani on a website related to this matter. What is the real truth about this? Should we endorse Islamic banks or not?
(2) My second question is that regarding the six fasts of Shawwal, Mufti Zar Wali Khan says that although they are mentioned in hadith, the practice of the Companions (peace be upon them) was not upon them, so he considers these six fasts of Shawwal to be an innovation (bid‘ah). I need your guidance on this matter.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

Instead of taking sides in the aforementioned juristic and scholarly differences among the scholars, the precaution lies in this: when dealing with these Islamic banks, one should obtain the full details of the transactions and then seek a ruling from a Darul-Ifta (fatwa-issuing body), and act according to that ruling.
The virtue of the six fasts of Shawwal is established from hadith, and their merit is mentioned in the reliable books of fiqh. Therefore, observing these fasts is recommended (mustahabb) and a source of reward. However, if they are treated as obligatory, and those who do not observe them are looked down upon with contempt, then this recommended act will also become an innovation (bid‘ah) and something that must be abandoned.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی صحیح مسلم: عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ، كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ»(2/ 822 رقم الحدیث 1164)۔
و فی اعلاء السنن:بعد ذکر قول الطحطاوی قلت: الکراھۃ محمولۃ علی احتمال سوء العقیدۃ لئلا یظن انھا من الفرائض لاتصالھا برمضان الخ (9/153)۔
و فی ردالمحتار: ان صوم الستۃ بعد الفطر متتابعۃ منھم من کرھہ والمختار أنہ لاباس بہ الخ(1/435)۔