Fasting six days of Shawwal after the obligatory fast of Ramadan is Sunnah Mustahabbah, not wajib. It is recommended for the Muslim to fast six days of Shawwal, and in this there is great virtue and an immense reward. Whoever fasts these six days will have recorded for him a reward as if he had fasted a whole year, as was reported in a sahih hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Abu Ayyob (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime." (Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) explained this when he said: "Whoever fasts for six days after (Eid) al-Fitr has completed the year: (whoever does a good deed (hasanah) will have ten hasanah like it)."
According to another report: "Allah has made for each hasanah ten like it, so a month is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days completes the year." (al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah)
It was also narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah with the wording: "Fasting for the month of Ramadan brings the reward of ten like it, and fasting for six days brings the reward of two months, and that is the fasting of the whole year."
The Hanbali and Shafa'i fuqaha'a (jurists) explained that fasting six days of Shawwal after fasting Ramadan makes it as if one has fasted for an entire year of obligatory fasts, because the multiplication of the reward applies even to nafl (supererogatory) fasts, because each hasanah brings the reward of ten like it.
Another of the important benefits of fasting six days of Shawwal is that is makes up for any shortfall in a person's obligatory Ramadan fasts, because no one is free of shortcomings or sins that have a negative effect on his fasting. On the Day of Resurrection, some of his nafl deeds will be taken to make up the shortcomings in his obligatory deeds, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The first thing for which people will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be their salah (prayer).
Our Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, will say to His angels - although He knows best - 'Look at the salah of My slave, whether it is complete or incomplete.' If it is perfect, it will be recorded as perfect, and if something is lacking, He will say, 'Look and see whether My slave did any voluntary (nafl) prayers.' If he did some voluntary prayers, [Allah] will say, Complete the obligatory actions of My slave from his voluntary actions.' Then all his actions will be dealt with in a similar manner." (Narrated by Abu Dawud). I want to know if I could start fasting the 6 days of Shawwal before or after making up the days I didn't fast in Ramadan?
The Muslim can fast the six days of Shawwal either immediately after the Eid day or delay them. He can also fast them either sequentially or separately throughout the month of Shawwal.
Moreover, if the person has some days of Ramadan he/she has to fast after Ramadan he/she can fast the six days before them according to the majority of the scholars but Imam Ahmad said: 'It is not permissible for one to fast non-obligatory fast before making up the missed obligatory fast.'
So the best act for a person who has to make up his Ramadan fast, is to fast the missing days of Ramadan before starting supererogatory fast, since it is preferable to perform his obligation as early as possible. - islamweb.net
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