What is the reality of the six fasts of the month of Shawwāl?

The six fasts should be kept anytime after `Eīd in the month of Shawwāl continuously or separately and this is Mustahab according to the majority of scholars. The Ansāri companion Abu Ayyūb (May Allāh be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadhān and then follows it with six of Shawwāl, it is equivalent to fasting the whole year”. (Muslim) Other narrations of Nasā’ī and Tabrānī further explain this. Allāh the Almighty says, “Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it” (6:160). Thus, the 30 days of Ramadhān are equivalent to ten months and the six days of Shawwāl are equivalent to two months, to complete a full year. `Abdullāh Ibn `Umar relates from the Prophet (Peace be upon him), “Whoever fasts Ramadhān and then follows it with six of Shawwāl, he purifies himself from sin like the day his mother bore him” (Tabrānī in Awsat).