Fasting Six Days of Shawwal on Mondays and Thursdays

Question

Can I combine intentions by fasting the six days of Shawwal on Mondays and Thursdays, so that I gain the reward of both?

Bottom Line

Yes, you can.

Quick Answer

Islam does not prohibit combining intentions in voluntary fasts. If you fast six days of Shawwal while choosing Mondays and Thursdays, you earn the reward of both the Sunnah of six days and the Sunnah of Mondays and Thursdays.

Key Takeaways

• You can fast Shawwal on Mondays and Thursdays with one intention.
• You earn both rewards: the six days and the Sunnah of Mondays/Thursdays.
• This flexibility shows ease in the religion regarding voluntary deeds.

Detailed Answer

Fasting is not only an act of discipline but a reminder of how fleeting this world is and how close Allah remains. The six days of Shawwal extend the fragrance of Ramadan into ordinary days, while Mondays and Thursdays remind us to weave worship into the rhythm of life. To join them together is to recognize that every breath, every day, can carry us closer to Allah when it is filled with intention.

There is no conflict in fasting six days of Shawwal on Mondays and Thursdays. Voluntary acts of worship allow for multiple intentions in a single deed. For example, a person may pray two rak‘ahs, intending both Sunnah and greeting the mosque, and both are accepted.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (RA) explained:

“If someone fasts the six days of Shawwal on Mondays and Thursdays, then he will attain the reward of fasting Shawwal and the reward of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. For the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Actions are but by intentions, and each person will have but that which he intended.’” (Sharh al-Mumti‘, 6/465)

Thus, fasting on these days brings a double reward without diminishing either. This is a mercy from Allah, making worship easier and more rewarding for the believer.

What This Means for You

You don’t have to choose between Shawwal fasts and Monday-Thursday Sunnah fasts. Combine them with a single intention and gain both rewards. It’s a simple way to multiply your deeds without burden.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Hadith

1. Sahih al-Bukhari 1 & Sahih Muslim 1907: “Actions are but by intentions.”

Secondary Sources

2. Ibn ‘Uthaymin, Sharh al-Mumti‘, 6/465.