Is it true the Hadith regarding six days of Shawwal fasting has a weak narrator and some of the ‘Ulama said fasting six days of Shawwal is makruh?
Answer
What you have heard is incorrect.
‘Allamah Qasim ibn Qutlubugha (rahimahullah) has rebutted those who claimed this fast to be makruh in his booklet entitled: ‘Tahrirul Aqwal fi Sawmis Sitti min Shawwal’.
The Hadith that encourages the 6 fasts of Shawwal is highly authentic and has been considered as mutawatir (which is the highest level of authenticity) by Muhaddithun like: ‘Allamah Suyuti and ‘Allamah Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ja’far Al-Kattani (rahimahumallah)
(Qatful Azhar, Hadith: 50 and Nazmul Mutanathir, Hadith: 128)
There are more than fifteen Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum) who have reported this from Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam)
Among them are the following:
1) Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (radiyallahu’anhu) in Sahih Muslim, Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 9816, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 2114 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 3634.
2) Sayyiduna Thawban (radiyallahu’anhu) in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 1715, Musnad Ahmad, vol.5 pg.280 , Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 2115 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 3635.
3) Sayyiduna Shaddad ibn Aws (radiyallahu’anhu) in kitabul ‘ilal of ibn Abi Hatim, Hadith: 745. Ibn Abi Hatim then quotes his esteemed father, Abu Hatim (rahimahumallah) to have declared this narration as authentic.
Hafiz ‘Ala-iy (rahimahullah) writes: ‘The Hadith of Abu Ayyub – in Sahih Muslim- is the most authentic (asahh) on this topic’
He also writes: ‘The Hadiths of Abu Ayyub, Thawban and Shaddad ibn Aws are authentic (sahih)’
(Raf’ul Ishkal ‘an Siyam sittati Ayyamin min Shawwal, pg.303 and 329 – Majmu’ Rasail)
4) Sayyiduna Jabir (radiyallahu’anhu) in Musnad Ahmad, vol.3 pg.308 and Sunanul Kubra of Bayhaqi, vol.4 pg.292.
For further details see the booklet of Shaykh Khalil, Mulla Khatir (may Allah protect him) entitled: ‘Mashru’iyyatu Siyami sittim min Shawwal’.
In addition to the above, several Muhaddithun have compiled the numerous chains of this Hadith in dedicated booklets.
Among them are the following:
1. Hafiz Dimyati,
2. Hafiz ‘Ala-iy,
3. ‘Allamah Taqiud Din Subki,
4. ‘Allamah ‘Iraqi,
5. ‘Allamah Qasim ibn Qutlubugha and others (rahimahumullah)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar