Fasting the six days of Shawwal before making up Ramadan

A question about fasting the six days of Shawwal before making up Ramadan, in which Jordan's General Iftaa Department answered that it is permitted if the days were missed with an excuse, that someone who broke the fast without excuse must make the days up promptly, and that combining both intentions is permitted though keeping them separate is more cautious. ¹

The questioner asked whether one may fast the six days of Shawwal before making up missed Ramadan days. ¹

The Department answered that if the fast was broken with an excuse, the six days may come before the make-up days, because making up is then not urgent and may be done in Shawwal or later, whereas the six days can only be fasted in Shawwal. ¹ It said that if the fast was broken without excuse, one must hasten to make it up immediately after Eid and before the six days; but if one fasts the six days, they are valid, and the missed fasts must be made up afterwards. ¹ It added that the intentions of making up and of the six days may be combined, though it is more cautious to keep each fast separate, for the greater reward and to stay clear of the disagreement of those who disallow combining. ¹

Jordan's General Iftaa Department published this fatwa on aliftaa.jo as no. 4178, dated 4 February 2026. ¹ The museum records this text as a historical document attributed to the body or scholar that issued it; it issues no ruling of its own.