The issue of trimming the beard, cutting the excess from it, and shaping it from here and there
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The third question of the fatwa number ( 20317 )
Q3: The issue of trimming the beard, cutting the excess from it, and shaping it from here and there has become widespread among some circles of committed youth. You see the young man, from time to time, reducing it from its edges. Perhaps they were in religious positions and were the ones being emulated by the general public before. Perhaps they argued with what was reported in weak narrations, or with what was attributed to Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and the issue of the handful?
A3: The authentic, established hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) indicate the obligation of growing the beard and letting it hang down as it was, and that it is forbidden to subject it to shaving, shortening, trimming, or shaping. Among these is what al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated in their Sahihs from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . In a narration of al-Bukhari : , and Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sahih Muslim 260 . And other authentic hadiths. What is mentioned therein is sufficient, if Allah wills. And the great scholar Abu Muhammad ibn Hazm transmitted his statement: (The scholars agreed that
cutting the mustache and letting the beard grow is obligatory). The aforementioned hadiths indicate the obligation of letting the beard grow, hanging it down, and growing it fully, as they indicate the prohibition of shaving it, shortening it, and shaping it; because the original ruling for commands is obligation and the original ruling for prohibitions is prohibition, and it is not permissible to divert them from their original and apparent meaning except with a valid proof and argument that is sound to rely upon, and there is no argument or proof that diverts them from that. Therefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim to obey the command of the Messenger of Allah and follow his example, for he (peace and blessings be upon him) had a thick beard, as is authentic from him, and it was not reported from any of his Companions, who are the best of generations, that he shortened his beard, except for what was done by 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar; for it was reported from him that he used to take from his beard during Hajj what exceeded the handful, so his action is not to be used as an argument given the establishment of the authentic hadiths. And 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim, and the argument is in the narrator's narration, not in his action and his independent legal reasoning. The scholars have mentioned that the narration of the narrator from the Companions and those after them, established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), is the argument, and it takes precedence over his opinion if it contradicts the Sunnah, for he is argued with by his narration of the Sunnah, but not by his action against the Sunnah. As for what al-Tirmidhi narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (that he used to take from his beard from its length its width), this hadith is weak
in its chain, rather invalid and denounced, and it is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and because in its chain is 'Umar ibn Harun al-Balkhi, who is one whose hadith is abandoned and one of those accused of lying, so it is not to be used as an argument. And on that basis, the action of these young men is of no consideration, and what is obligatory upon them and every Muslim is to obey the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and beware of contradicting his command, or imitating the enemies of Allah and His Messenger, and to distance oneself from resembling women, and that a person be a good example in his words and actions. And what is obligatory is to advise those who contradict that, and to encourage and incite them to the obedience of Allah and His Messenger, and to obey their commands and avoid their prohibitions in everything. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q3: The issue of trimming the beard, cutting the excess from it, and shaping it from here and there has become widespread among some circles of committed youth. You see the young man, from time to time, reducing it from its edges. Perhaps they were in religious positions and were the ones being emulated by the general public before. Perhaps they argued with what was reported in weak narrations, or with what was attributed to Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and the issue of the handful?
A3: The authentic, established hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) indicate the obligation of growing the beard and letting it hang down as it was, and that it is forbidden to subject it to shaving, shortening, trimming, or shaping. Among these is what al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated in their Sahihs from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Cut short the moustaches and let the beards grow, and differ from the polytheists.
قصوا الشوارب وأعفوا اللحى خالفوا المشركينCut the beards short, let the beards grow, and be distinct from the polytheists.
قصوا الشوارب، ووفروا اللحى، خالفوا المشركينTrim closely the moustache, and grow beard, and thus act against the fire-worshippers.
جزوا الشوارب وأرخوا اللحى خالفوا المجوسcutting the mustache and letting the beard grow is obligatory). The aforementioned hadiths indicate the obligation of letting the beard grow, hanging it down, and growing it fully, as they indicate the prohibition of shaving it, shortening it, and shaping it; because the original ruling for commands is obligation and the original ruling for prohibitions is prohibition, and it is not permissible to divert them from their original and apparent meaning except with a valid proof and argument that is sound to rely upon, and there is no argument or proof that diverts them from that. Therefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim to obey the command of the Messenger of Allah and follow his example, for he (peace and blessings be upon him) had a thick beard, as is authentic from him, and it was not reported from any of his Companions, who are the best of generations, that he shortened his beard, except for what was done by 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar; for it was reported from him that he used to take from his beard during Hajj what exceeded the handful, so his action is not to be used as an argument given the establishment of the authentic hadiths. And 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Cut short the moustaches and let the beards grow, and differ from the polytheists.
قصوا الشوارب وأعفوا اللحى خالفوا المشركينin its chain, rather invalid and denounced, and it is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and because in its chain is 'Umar ibn Harun al-Balkhi, who is one whose hadith is abandoned and one of those accused of lying, so it is not to be used as an argument. And on that basis, the action of these young men is of no consideration, and what is obligatory upon them and every Muslim is to obey the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and beware of contradicting his command, or imitating the enemies of Allah and His Messenger, and to distance oneself from resembling women, and that a person be a good example in his words and actions. And what is obligatory is to advise those who contradict that, and to encourage and incite them to the obedience of Allah and His Messenger, and to obey their commands and avoid their prohibitions in everything. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.