Full Lecture Transcript (Cleaned)
Mondays and Thursdays with Makeup Fasts — 6:02
If you have fasts to make up from Ramadan, you may choose Mondays and Thursdays to follow the spirit of the sunnah and you will get the reward for doing so.
The reasoning is that Mondays and Thursdays are "empty slots." If you fill an empty slot with a qada (makeup fast), no problem -- you get both benefits.
Six of Shawwal Are Different — 6:37
As for the six of Shawwal, these are not empty slots. These are "extra tokens" -- you have to buy them separately. You have to do them separately. It's not buy one, get one free.
So for the six of Shawwal, you cannot have dual intention. You either choose qada or six of Shawwal for any given day.
Must You Finish Ramadan Fasts Before Shawwal? — 7:04
This is a common question, especially from sisters and those who were ill during Ramadan. The response: it is better to finish up Ramadan makeup fasts before the six of Shawwal, but it is not necessary.
Why? Because even if you have a wajib (obligation), as long as you intend to fulfill it, you are not sinful. Just as you may give sadaqah (voluntary charity) while still intending to pay your zakat next week, you may do voluntary fasts while still owing obligatory ones -- as long as you plan to fulfill the obligation.