Trimming the Beard

3-2-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

We cannot shave our beards, but can we trim it? If yes, how short?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Growing (leaving) the beard and trimming mustaches is an obligatory act in Islam in obedience with the command of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

Ibn ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Cut your mustaches and grow your beards. Be different from the polytheists.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Shaving the beard is a disobedience to Allah and his Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

Allah Says (what means): {So let those beware who dissent from the Prophet's order, lest fitnah strike them or a painful punishment.} [Quran 24:63]

Shaving the beard is a violation of the Sunnah. The Prophet’s sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) beard covered down to his throat. There is no sound Hadeeth proving that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) shaved or shortened his noble beard.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him cut what exceeded a handful in length of his beard. So, if the beard exceeds in length one handful, the excess hair could be trimmed without this being against the Sharee’ah.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 91108, 119302, 282286, and beard">90681.

Allah knows best.

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