The ruling on shaving the beard, shortening it, and dyeing it black

Question:
He asks: What is the ruling on shaving the beard or shortening it? What is the ruling on using black dye? And what is your advice to the one who does all of this?

Answer:
Shaving the beard or shortening it is not permissible. This is based on the authentic hadiths reported on this matter, including what is established in the two Sahihs from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: In a hadith in Muslim, it says: "Trim the mustaches and let the beards grow; oppose the Majus (Zoroastrians)." The most correct wording is: "Let the beards grow; oppose the Majus." It is obligatory to let the beard grow and keep it intact. The beard is what grows on the cheeks and the chin; the cheeks and the chin constitute the beard. It is obligatory to keep it intact, let it grow, and not cut it. This is the obligation, and this is the correct position, contrary to those who transgress by cutting it, whether they are polytheists or others. It is also obligatory to trim the mustaches. Many people lengthen their mustaches and shorten their beards, which is the opposite of what the Sunnah prescribes. The Sunnah is to trim the mustaches and keep them short, and to let the beard grow and hang down, and to be careful not to cut it. Some people may cling to what is reported about Ibn 'Umar that he used to take some of it during his Hajj and 'Umrah. This was his independent reasoning (ijtihad), and it is not permissible to follow him in this, because it contradicts the Sunnah that he and others narrated. When the practice of a Companion contradicts the authoritative narration, the authority lies in the narration, not in his practice. Thus, the authority is in what he narrated, not in what he did. Similarly, cutting the beard is a single ruling, but shaving it is a greater sin. Both cutting it and shaving it are forbidden. May Allah reward you. As for dyeing, O Shaykh? As for the beard, if it is black, it is not permissible. As for red, it is a recommended practice (sunnah). This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Change this gray hair and avoid black." He said: "Oppose the Jews and the Christians, for they do not dye their hair." So the Sunnah is to dye it, but not with black.