48. Can I COMBINE the niyyah of fasting these six days of Shawwaal with my days that I owe from Ramadhaan?

By Asma bint Shameem

There’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about this issue

But the *stronger* scholarly opinion is that you cannot combine the intention of fasting the six days of Shaw,not, ,aal with the missed days of Ramadhaan.

That's because these Shawaal fasts are SPECIFIC and CONNECTED to the fasts of Ramadhaan.

*And one cannot combine those ibaadaat that are “specific” or “connected” to each other*

For example, if someone wants to pray two rak’aat at the time of Fajr with the intention to combine the two Sunnah with the two Fardh, obviously that's not valid.

That's because the Sunnah of Fajr is “specific”and “directly connected” to the Fardh of Fajr, and cannot take its place.

Similar is the case with the fasts of Shawwaal.

They're specific and directly associated or connected to the fasts of Ramadhaan and therefore cannot be combined.

Shaikh ibn Uthaymeen said:

"With regard to fasting the six days of Shawwaal, they are connected to Ramadhaan and can only done after making up missed Ramadhaan fasts."
(Fataawa al-Siyaam)

On the other hand, any act of ibaadah that's “NONSPECIFIC” or “NOT CONNECTED” with any other act of ibaadah CAN be combined.

For example if you enter the masjid, and people are praying Salatul Ishaa, you don't have to pray tahiyyatul masjid “SEPARATELY”; rather your praying in Jama'ah will suffice.

That's because tahiyyatul masjid is NONSPECIFIC and NOT CONNECTED with any specific act of ibaadah.

The point of tahiyyatul masjid is to pray before sitting down. And praying with the Ishaa Jama'ah will fulfill that need.

And Allaah knows best