On Shawwal fasting and priorities:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” – Prophet ﷺ .
Alhamduli Allah, I intend(ed) to fast these 6…I fasted my first on Monday, and it was hard. Fasting in Shawwal is different than Ramadan. The days are longer now, and I ended up nursing my daughter an extra time during fasting. I wasn’t able to keep up with my kids’ homework/reading as I was tired and needed to take a nap.
I remembered the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ : “It suffices as sin for a person to neglect those he is responsible for.”
There are many instances in the Seerah where the Prophet ﷺ encouraged those with an excuse to breakfast as there were more pressing priorities.
In fiqh fasting is great but only when it doesn’t prevent you from doing that which is more important.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud wouldn’t fast much and would say: “It prevents me from reciting the Qur’an and reciting the Qur’an is more beloved to me.”
Accordingly, I may not fast Shawwal this year, as much as I want to. But there are priorities. As a mother, I need to be available for my family and for teaching. I will intend on doing that when I leave those fasts, and in that, I hope for a greater reward.
And Allah knows best.
