10th Month in the Islamic Calendar : Shawwal

Shawwal : Is the tenth month of the Islamic Calendar.

Meaning of the word Shawwaal:- Uplift/breakage.  Before Islam, Arabs believed that any marriage held in Shawwaal would always turn out to be unsuccessful.  Hence, the month deprived the above metioned meanings, however the superstitious belief was later abolished.

The month Shawwal:- From the months of Hajj, Shawwaal is the first of them.  The first day of Shawwal is Eid-Ul-Fitr and also the day when sins are forgiven.

Six fasts of Shawwal:- In the month of Shawwal it is Sunnah to keep six fasts, as narrated in the following Hadith by Abu Ayyub Ansaru (Radi Allahu anhu) that the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam) has said, "If one throughout his life keeps the fasts of Ramadan and keeps six consecutive fasts in Shawwal it will be as though he has kept a whole life time of fasts, and if one keeps the six consecutive fasts for one Shawwal month it will be as though he has observed fast all year round."

 (Muslim)

Events which took place in Shawwal:-

1) Hadrat Aa'ishah Siddiqah (Radi Allahu ta'ala anha) was born in Shawwal four years after Prophethood which is nine years before Hijrah.

2) Hadrat Aa'ishah Siddiqah (Radi Allahu ta'ala anha) was married in this month ten years after Prophethood which is three years before Hijrah.

3) The fight between Banu Qaynaqaa took place between the battle of Badr and Uhud (Shawwal 2 A.H. after Hijrah)

4) The battle of Uhud also took place in Shawwal, three years after Hijrah.

5) Hadrat Imam Hussain (Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu) the Beloved Prophet's (Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam) grandson (son of Hadrat Fatima Radi Allahu ta'ala anha) was born in the month of Shawwal four years after Hijrah.

6) The Beloved Prophet  (Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam) married Hadhrat Umme Salamah (Radi Allahu ta'ala anha) in Shawwal in the fourth year after Hijrah.

7) Hadrat Aa'ishah Siddiqah's (Radi Allahu ta'ala anha) mother passed away in 5 A.H.

8) The Beloved Prophet's (Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa aalihi wa Sallam) uncle Abu Talib departed from this world during the middle of Shawwal in the year 5 A.H.

9) Imam Bukhari (Radi Allahu anhu) was born on a Friday of Shawwal in the year 194 A.H.