SHOULD THE MISSED FASTS OF RAMADAAN BE MADE UP BEFORE THE FASTS OF SHAWWAAL?

Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen - hafidhahullaah - said:

“[There occurs] in the hadeeth: “Whosoever fasts the month of Ramadaan, then follows it up by fasting six days in the month of Shawwaal, it will be as if he has fasted the whole year.”[1] Thus, whoever has yet to make up some of the missed fasts of Ramadaan, has not yet truly fasted the [whole] month of Ramadaan; and this is something very obvious ... So there is no fasting the six fasts (of Shawwaal), except after completing the missed fasts of Ramadaan.” [2]
EATING COLLECTIVELY:

Al-Wahshiyyee Ibn Harb (radiyallaahu ’anhu) related that some of the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! We eat, but we do not become satisfied.’ So he said to them: “Perhaps you eat separately?” So they replied: ‘Yes.’ So he said: “Eat your food collectively, mention the Name of Allaah upon it, then there will be blessings for you in it.” [3] Shaykh Ibnul-’Uthaymeen said: “This indicates that it is essential to eat collectively from a single plate. So if there are five or ten people, they should eat collectively from a single dish, depending upon the situation. Indeed, doing so is a cause for barakah (blessings) to descend, whilst eating separately is a cause for barakah to depart.” [4]
RACING TO DO GOOD:

Shaykh Ibnul-’Uthaymeen - hafidhahullaah - said:

“Hastening (to do good) is the opposite of being lazy and sluggish. So whenever a person is lazy and sluggish, then he will certainly miss out on a lot of good. This is why the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “The strong Believer is better and more beloved to Allaah that a weak Believer, yet in each of them there is good. So be eager in doing that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allaah. and do not be lazy.” [5] ... Sometimes, due to a person’s laziness in doing good actions, he ends up not doing the good; either because death overtakes him, or he is struck with some illness (which incapacitates him) or the opportunity just passes him by. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said about this: “When anyone of you intends to perform the Hajj (Pilgrimage), then let him hasten in doing so; for perhaps he may later be struck with an illness, or he may loose his riding beast, or he may be diverted by some other need.” [6] Thus, there are many reasons which may prevent a person from doing good, so one must hasten in doing good and not be lazy.”[7]

Footnotes:

[1] Related by Muslim (no. 1164), from Aboo Ayyoob (radiyallaahu ’anhu)

[2] Sharhul-Mumti’ ’alaa Zaadul-Mustaqni’ (6/448--449)

[3] Hasan: Related by Aboo Daawood (no. 3764). It was authenticated by al-Haafidh al-’Iraaqee in his Takhreejul-Ihyaa‘ (no. 214).

[4] Sharh Riyaadus-Saaliheen (7/231) of Ibnul-’Uthaymeen

[5] Related by Muslim (no. 2664)

[6] Hasan: Related by Ibn Maajah (no. 2883). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no. 6004).

[7] Sharh Riyaadus-Saaliheen (3/7-8), slightly abridged