Is it permissible to combine the intention to fast the missed days with the intention to fast the six days of Shawwal? A question answered by Dar Al-Iftaa as follows:
Yes, it is permissible for a Muslim to have the intention of fasting a voluntary fast with the intention of fasting an obligatory fast, so he makes up what he missed from Ramadan in the month of Shawwal, and is satisfied with every day he makes up for fasting one of the six days of Shawwal, and thus obtains both rewards, and it is more complete and better to fast each of them separately.
On the authority of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari, may God be pleased with him, that the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it will be like his father’s fasting.” Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. It is Sunnah for a Muslim to fast six days of Shawwal after Ramadan, in order to obtain this great reward. As for combining the intention of fasting these six days or some of them with the days of making up for them in the month of Shawwal, it is permissible for a Muslim to make the intention of fasting a voluntary fast with the intention of fasting an obligatory fast, and thus the Muslim will obtain both rewards.
Al-Hafiz al-Suyuti said in “Al-Ashbah wal-Naza’ir” (1/22): [ولو صام في يوم عرفة مثلًا قضاء أو نذرًا أو كفارة ونوى معه الصوم عن عرفة، فأفتى البارزي بالصحة والحصول عنهما. قال: كذا إن أطلق. فألحقه بمسألة التحية] Oh.
What is meant by the issue of greeting is the two rak’ahs of greeting the mosque, as Imam Al-Bujayrimi said in his “Hashiyah” (1/280): [وتحصل بركعتين فأكثر، أي يحصل فضلها ولو كان ذلك فرضًا أو نفلًا آخر، سواء أنويت معه أم لا؛ لخبر الشيخين: «إذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَا يَجْلِسْ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ»؛ ولأن المقصود وجود صلاة قبل الجلوس وقد وجدت] Oh.
The scholars thus inferred the permissibility of voluntary fasting being included under obligatory fasting, and not the other way around. That is, it is not permissible for the obligatory intention to fall under the voluntary intention. Accordingly, it is permissible for a Muslim woman to make up what she missed from fasting Ramadan in the month of Shawwal, and it is sufficient for her to fast the six days of Shawwal, and she will obtain her reward. Because this fast occurred in the month of Shawwal.
However, what is more complete and better is for the Muslim man or woman to fast the missed days first, then the six days of Shawwal, or the six days of Shawwal first, then make up the days; Because obtaining the reward in combination does not mean obtaining the full reward, but rather it means obtaining the original reward of the Sunnah in addition to the reward of the obligatory prayer, which is what Al-Ramli expressed in his saying: [ولو صام في شوال قضاءً أو نذرًا أو غيرهما أو في نحو يوم عاشوراء حصل له ثواب تطوعها، كما أفتى به الوالد رحمه الله تعالى تبعًا للبارزي والأصفوني والناشري والفقيه بن صالح الحضرمي وغيرهم، لكن لا يحصل له الثواب الكامل المرتب على المطلوب] Oh. That is, what is required in the prophetic command to follow Ramadan with six days of Shawwal.
