# Fasting the Six Days of Shawwal: Rules, Rewards & How to Track Them

> Markdown twin of https://sawm360.com/guides/fasting-six-days-of-shawwal — last updated 2026-10-12. SAWM 360 is published by OKTRA.

The Prophet ﷺ said: whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year. Six days, one month to fit them in, and a few practical rules — here's everything you need.

## The reward: a year of fasting

> "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he has fasted for the entire year."
>
> — The Prophet ﷺ, reported in Sahih Muslim

The math the scholars give: rewards are multiplied tenfold, so Ramadan counts like ten months and six days like two more — a full year. Keep it up annually and it's as if you fasted a lifetime.

## The rules, quickly

- **They do NOT need to be consecutive.** Spread the six days across Shawwal however life allows.
- **Never on Eid al-Fitr.** The 1st of Shawwal is a day of celebration — fasting it is forbidden. Your window is the 2nd until the month ends.
- **It's a recommended sunnah,** held by the majority of scholars (Shafi'i, Hanbali, and the well-known Hanafi position).
- **Missed Ramadan days first?** Many scholars advise completing qada before the six, others permit the six first — follow the opinion of a scholar you trust.

## When are the six days of Shawwal? Dates for 2027 and 2028

Expected dates by the Umm al-Qura calendar. The window opens the day after Eid al-Fitr and closes when Shawwal ends; the crescent sighting can shift it by a day.

Eid al-Fitr and the six-day window, 2027 and 2028

| Year | Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal): do not fast | Window for the six days (2 Shawwal to the end of the month) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2027 (1448 AH) | Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Wed 10 Mar – Wed 7 Apr 2027 |
| 2028 (1449 AH) | Sat 26 Feb 2028 | Sun 27 Feb – Sun 26 Mar 2028 |

## Why most people only manage three or four

The six days of Shawwal fail for one boring reason: nobody counts them. After the joy of Eid, the weeks fill up, and suddenly the moon-sighting announcements say Dhul Qa'dah has begun — window closed. The fix is the same as any goal: a visible counter with reminders.

SAWM 360 tags Shawwal 2–7 on its Hijri calendar and counts the completed fasts you log on those days in your Shawwal count — gentle pressure, exactly when you need it.

### How to complete all six with SAWM 360

1. **Finish Ramadan tracked** — then leave the 1st of Shawwal, Eid, unfasted and start from the 2nd.
2. **See the Shawwal window** — the 📅 Shawwal badge marks days 2–7 on the calendar.
3. **Pick your six days** — Mondays and Thursdays double as weekly sunnah — the app highlights the overlap.
4. **Mark each fast complete** — each completed day adds to your Shawwal count on the Calendar tab.
5. **Earn merit** — completed Shawwal days count toward your monthly achievement badge.

[Download free on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/sawm-360/id6756280452) [Get it free on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sawm360.app)

## Frequently asked questions

### When can I fast the six days of Shawwal in 2027?

From Wednesday 10 March 2027 (2 Shawwal 1448) until the end of Shawwal, expected on Wednesday 7 April, by the Umm al-Qura calendar; the 1st, Eid al-Fitr (expected Tuesday 9 March), cannot be fasted.

### Do the six days of Shawwal have to be consecutive?

No — you can spread them across the whole month. Only Eid al-Fitr itself (1 Shawwal) is off-limits. SAWM 360 tags Shawwal 2–7 on its calendar and counts the completed fasts you log on those days.

### Can I fast the six days before making up missed Ramadan days?

Scholars differ. The safer course many recommend is qada first; others allow the six days first since qada has until next Ramadan. Ask a scholar you trust.

### Can I combine the six days with Monday/Thursday fasts?

Yes — fasting a Shawwal day that falls on a Monday earns both sunnah rewards in most scholars' view, and SAWM 360 tags both on the same day (for Shawwal 2–7).

## Six days. One month. A year's reward.

Track your Shawwal count with SAWM 360 and finish all six before the moon turns. Free on iOS.

[Download free on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/sawm-360/id6756280452) [Get it free on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sawm360.app)

## Related guides

- [Ramadan Fasting Tracker: Never Lose Count of a Fast Again](https://sawm360.com/guides/ramadan-fasting-tracker.md)
- [Sunnah Fasting Days: The Complete Monday–Thursday Guide](https://sawm360.com/guides/sunnah-fasting-days.md)
- [White Days Fasting: When Are the White Days This Month?](https://sawm360.com/guides/white-days-fasting.md)