Want To Do Syawal Fasting, This Is The Prayer And The Time

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JAKARTA - Entering the month of Syawal, there is a practice of fasting sunnah that is usually carried out by Muslims. Then, what is the intention of fasting Syawal?

As reported by nu.or.id, the intention is one of the pillars of fasting and other worship in general. It is based on the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) which states that everything depends on the intention. When stating the intention, a person in the heart must state his intention (qashad), in this case fasting.

In addition to qashad, one also mentions the status of mandatory law or sunnah regarding the worship to be performed. It is called ta'arrudh. While another thing that must be remembered when the intention is the mention of the name of worship (ta'yin).

In the context of Syawal sunnah fasting, scholars differed concerning ta'yin. Some scholars state that one must remember the 'fasting of the Sunnah of Syawal' when the intention in his mind. While some other scholars state that ta'yin is not obligatory. This is explained by Shaykh Ibn Hajar al-Haitami as follows.

(وْلُهُ نَعَمْ بَحَثَ إلَخْ (عِبَارَةُ الْمُغْنِي وَالنِّهَايَةِ وَالْأَسْنَى فَإِنْ قِيلَ قَالَ فِي الْمَجْمُوعِ هَكَذَا أَطْلَقَهُ الْأَصْحَابُ وَيَنْبَغِي اشْتِرَاطُ التَّعْيِينِ فِي الصَّوْمِ الرَّاتِبِ كَعَرَفَةَ وَعَاشُورَاءَ وَأَيَّامِ الْبِيضِ وَسِتَّةٍ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَرَوَاتِبِ الصَّلَاةِ أُجِيبُ بِأَنَّ الصَّوْمَ فِي الْأَيَّامِ الْمَذْكُورَةِ مُنْصَرِفٌ إلَيْهَا بَلْ لَوْ نَوَى بِهِ غَيْرَهَا حَصَلَ أَيْضًا كَتَحِيَّةِ الْمَسْجِدِ ؛ لِأَنَّ الْمَقْصُودَ وُجُودُ صَوْمٍ فِيهَا ا هـ زَادَ شَيْخُنَا وَبِهَذَا فَارَقَتْ رَوَاتِبَ الصَّلَوَاتِ ا ه

It means, "The word 'But seek...' is an expression used in Mughni, Nihayah, and Asna. When asked, Imam Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo', 'This is what is mentioned absolutely by the Shaafa'iyyah scholars. It should be required ta'yin (mention of the name of fasting in intention) in the fasting of rawatib such as fasting of 'Arafah, fasting of Ashura, fasting of bidh (13,14, 15 every Hijri month), and six days syawal fasting like ta'yin in salat rawatib'. He said, fasting on these days is determined by time.

But if a person intends another fasting at these times, then he has got the virtue of fasting the sunah rawatib. This is similar to praying tahiyyatul mosque. Because the purpose of the rawatib fasting order is the implementation of the fast itself regardless of the intention of fasting. Our teacher added, this is where the difference between rawatib fasting and rawatib prayer," (See Shaykh Ibn Hajar al-Haitami, Tuhfatul Muhtaj fi Syarhil Minhaj).

Ideally, six days of sunnah Syawal fasting was done just after eid al-Fitr, namely on 2-7 Syawal. But those who fast outside of that date, even if they are not in sequence, still get the virtue of fasting Syawal as if fasting is mandatory for a whole year.

Even those who make up the fast or perform their nadzar fast in the month of Syawal still get priority like those who fast the Sunnah of Syawal. So great is the virtue of fasting, a person who is unable to perform it in the month of Syawal, is recommended to make up it in another month. Thus the information that we can get in the books of turats, among them Nihayatuz Zain by Sheikh Nawawi al-Bantani.

To strengthen the heart, the scholars encourage a person to recite his intentions. This is the intention of fasting Syawal.

نَوَيْتُ صَوْمَ غَدٍ عَنْ أَدَاءِ سُنَّةِ الشَّوَّالِ لِلهِ تَعَالَى

Nawaitu shauma ghadin 'an adâ'i sunnatis Syawwâli lillâhi ta'âlâ.

That is, "I intend to fast the Sunnah of Syawal tomorrow because of Allah SWT."

As for the person who suddenly in the morning wants to practice the fast of Syawal, it is permissible for him to intend since he wants to fast sunnah at that time. Because the obligation of intention at night only applies to obligatory fasting. For fasting sunnah, intention can be done during the day as far as the concerned have not eaten, drank, and other things that break the fast since dawn.

It is also recommended to recite the intention of fasting Syawal during the day. And when We shall set forth the heavens and the earth in truth, they will say, "This is what we used to do

نَوَيْتُ صَوْمَ هَذَا اليَوْمِ عَنْ أَدَاءِ سُنَّةِ الشَّوَّالِ لِلهِ تَعَالَى

Nawaitu shauma hâdzal yaumi 'an adâ'i sunnatis Syawwâli lillâhi ta'âlâ.

It means, "I intend to fast the Sunnah of Syawal today because of Allah SWT." Wallahu a'lam