Shawwal: The Month of Eid and Six Fasts
Shawwal is the joyful month that follows Ramadan, opening with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr and carrying a beautiful opportunity for continued reward. It is the month of the six fasts that, when joined to the fasting of Ramadan, are likened to fasting the whole year. More than that, Shawwal is a chance to carry the spirit of Ramadan forward, holding on to the worship, generosity, and self-discipline the blessed month nurtured. In this guide we explore what it is, the reward of its fasting, and the beautiful things every believer should know about this rewarding month.
The Quran reminds the believer of the boundless generosity of Allah, who rewards a single good deed with ten times its like or more.
مَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُۥ عَشۡرُ أَمۡثَالِهَا
“Whoever comes with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof.”
What Is Shawwal?
Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, coming immediately after the month of Ramadan. It begins with one of the two great festivals of Islam, Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the completion of the month of fasting and is a day of joy, gratitude, and worship.
Beyond the festival, it is best known for the six voluntary fasts that carry immense reward when joined to the fasting of Ramadan. In this way the month becomes a bridge that allows the believer to extend the blessings of Ramadan and to hold on to the good habits the blessed month built.
6 Beautiful Things to Know About Shawwal
To appreciate this rewarding month, here are six beautiful things to know about Shawwal:
- It is the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, following Ramadan.
- It opens with Eid al-Fitr, the festival that ends the fast.
- It contains the six fasts that bring great reward after Ramadan.
- Six fasts with Ramadan are likened to fasting the entire year.
- Fasting is not allowed on the day of Eid itself.
- It is a chance to carry the spirit of Ramadan forward.
The Reward of Fasting in the Quran and Sunnah
The generosity behind the reward of Shawwal’s fasting reflects a principle stated in the Quran. In Surah Al-Anam, Allah promises that whoever brings a good deed will have ten like it, a multiplication of reward that helps explain how six fasts joined to Ramadan can equal the reward of a whole year of fasting.
Whoever brings a good deed will have ten times the like of it a reward multiplied by the generosity of Allah
Why Shawwal Matters
The month matters because it offers a beautiful way to seal and extend the worship of Ramadan. The Prophet (pbuh) taught that whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal is as though they fasted the entire year, an extraordinary reward for a small number of voluntary fasts. It is a gift that allows the believer to multiply the blessings of the month just passed.
Shawwal also tests whether the lessons of Ramadan have taken root. The true sign that the blessed month was accepted is that its good habits continue afterwards, and the worship of Shawwal is a wonderful way to prove that one’s prayer, charity, and self-discipline did not end with the festival.
Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal is as though he fasted for the whole of the year
The Six Fasts of Shawwal
The most cherished worship of these days is the keeping of the six voluntary fasts. They may be fasted consecutively or spread throughout the month, beginning after the day of Eid, and they carry the great reward described by the Prophet (pbuh). Many believers begin them soon after the festival to ensure they do not miss this beautiful and rewarding opportunity.
How the Six Fasts Equal a Year
The reasoning behind the reward is rooted in the generosity of Allah. Since each good deed is rewarded tenfold, the thirty days of Ramadan are counted as the reward of three hundred days, and the six fasts of Shawwal as sixty more. Together they complete a full year of reward, a beautiful mercy that turns a modest amount of voluntary fasting into the reward of fasting every day.
Carrying Ramadan Forward
Beyond fasting, Shawwal is a chance to hold on to all the good that Ramadan nurtured. The believer can keep up their daily prayers, continue reciting the Quran, maintain their charity, and guard the tongue and the heart. Carrying these habits beyond the festival is the truest fruit of the blessed month and a sign of gratitude for its blessings.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
To make the most of the month, it helps to avoid the following:
- Abandoning every good habit the moment Ramadan ends.
- Putting off the six fasts until the month slips away.
- Attempting to fast on the day of Eid, when fasting is not allowed.
- Treating the festival as pure indulgence with no worship or gratitude.
- Forgetting that consistency, not intensity, is the goal after Ramadan.
A Month of Joy and Gratitude
This is a month that blends celebration with continued devotion. It begins with the joy of Eid and the gratitude of having completed the fast, then offers a gentle path to keep that gratitude alive through voluntary worship. Approaching the month with thankfulness, rather than treating Ramadan as a chapter that is simply closed, allows its light to continue shining throughout the year.
A Bridge Between Two Months
This month holds a special place as a bridge between the great worship of Ramadan and the ordinary months that follow. It catches the believer at a vulnerable moment, when the structure of fasting has ended and old habits can easily creep back in. By offering its six blessed fasts and the joy of Eid, it gently keeps the believer anchored in worship through this transition rather than letting them drift.
In this sense the month is a mercy. It hands the believer a clear, rewarding goal to pursue right after Ramadan, smoothing the return to daily life while keeping the heart attached to fasting, prayer, and the remembrance of Allah.
Consistency After Ramadan
One of the most important lessons after Ramadan is the value of consistency. The Prophet (pbuh) taught that the deeds most beloved to Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small. A believer who keeps up a modest amount of worship every day, a few verses of Quran, a voluntary prayer, a little charity, pleases Allah more than one who worships intensely for a month and then stops entirely.
This is the spirit the month invites the believer to embrace. Rather than treating Ramadan as a burst of worship followed by a return to old ways, the believer carries forward steady, sustainable habits that keep the heart connected to Allah throughout the year.
The deeds most beloved to Allah are those done consistently even if they are small so never abandon them
A Sign That Ramadan Was Accepted
The scholars have long taught that one of the signs a good deed has been accepted is that it is followed by another good deed. By continuing to worship after Ramadan, through the six fasts and steady devotion, the believer shows that the blessed month truly changed them. In this way the month becomes a kind of test, revealing whether the lessons of Ramadan have taken lasting root in the heart.
This gives the believer a beautiful reason to persevere. Every fast kept and every prayer maintained after the festival is a hopeful sign that Allah accepted the worship of the month just passed.
Among the signs that a good deed has been accepted is that it is followed by another good deed
Lessons Shawwal Teaches Us
The month of Eid and six fasts teaches the believer to seal good deeds with consistency, to be grateful for the gift of Ramadan, and to seize the generous reward Allah offers. It reminds us that worship is a lifelong path, not a single season, and it calls us to carry the spirit of Ramadan forward with patience and devotion.
Keen to keep Ramadan’s momentum alive? It’s About Islam shares short, beautiful reminders on Shawwal, the six fasts, and worship you can share. Find us on YouTube, Threads and LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shawwal
Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, following Ramadan. It begins with Eid al-Fitr and is known for the six voluntary fasts that carry great reward.
They are six voluntary fasts kept during the month after the day of Eid. The Prophet (pbuh) said that whoever fasts them after Ramadan is as though they fasted the whole year.
Each good deed is rewarded tenfold, so Ramadan counts as three hundred days and the six fasts as sixty more, together completing the reward of a full year of fasting.
Yes. The six fasts may be kept consecutively or spread throughout the month, beginning after the day of Eid, whichever is easier for the believer.
No. Fasting is not allowed on the day of Eid al-Fitr, which falls on the first of Shawwal, as it is a day of celebration and gratitude.
Shawwal lets the believer extend the blessings of Ramadan through voluntary fasting and shows whether the good habits of the blessed month have truly taken root.
Extending the Blessings of Ramadan
Shawwal is a beautiful gift after Ramadan, a month that opens with the joy of Eid and offers the great reward of six blessed fasts. By keeping these fasts and carrying the worship of Ramadan forward, the believer seals the blessings of the month and earns the reward of a whole year. May Allah accept your fasting in Ramadan and Shawwal and keep you steadfast throughout the year.