You said that letting the beard hang down is forbidden, just like letting the garment hang down. Is it permissible for us to say that any beard that exceeds a fist's length is in the Fire?
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The questioner : What is your position, O Shaykh, regarding letting the beard hang down and letting the garment hang down?
The Shaykh : Yes, by Allah.
The questioner : I mean, is it permissible for us to say, for example, that if it exceeds a fist's length, it is in the Fire?
The Shaykh : We do not say that we are the ones who decide this. The important thing is to know where this ruling came from.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The ruling came from the fact that it is not permissible to use general, absolute texts except within the limits of what was practiced. Otherwise, a door of religious innovation would be opened for the Muslims that scholars would be unable to close. And what is the origin of this religious innovation that the people of the Sunnah complain about, except clinging to general texts whose generality was not practiced?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For example, we know that the one who calls the adhan with an innovation, adding to it before or after a prayer upon the Messenger, for example, argues with us using the Qur'an. Allah, O Shaykh, said:[Al-Ahzab 33:56] What is the response?
Did the one upon whom this general Qur'anic text was revealed apply it in this manner?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Therefore, the general text must be understood within the limits of what was practiced in the first era.
So now: letting the beard hang down, if it becomes long and drags on the ground, this is the practice of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Correct?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : "Let the beards grow," but was the practice carried out according to this growing?
The answer is: No. So from here we say: whoever is presented with this proof and then contradicts it afterwards, we say, yes, he is in the Fire, because he contradicted the practice of the righteous predecessors. Did I make the matter clear to you?
The questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, by Allah.
The questioner : I mean, is it permissible for us to say, for example, that if it exceeds a fist's length, it is in the Fire?
The Shaykh : We do not say that we are the ones who decide this. The important thing is to know where this ruling came from.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The ruling came from the fact that it is not permissible to use general, absolute texts except within the limits of what was practiced. Otherwise, a door of religious innovation would be opened for the Muslims that scholars would be unable to close. And what is the origin of this religious innovation that the people of the Sunnah complain about, except clinging to general texts whose generality was not practiced?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For example, we know that the one who calls the adhan with an innovation, adding to it before or after a prayer upon the Messenger, for example, argues with us using the Qur'an. Allah, O Shaykh, said:
O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.
يا أيها الذين آمنوا صلوا عليه وسلموا تسليماًDid the one upon whom this general Qur'anic text was revealed apply it in this manner?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Therefore, the general text must be understood within the limits of what was practiced in the first era.
So now: letting the beard hang down, if it becomes long and drags on the ground, this is the practice of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
And let the beards grow
وأعفوا اللحىThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : "Let the beards grow," but was the practice carried out according to this growing?
The answer is: No. So from here we say: whoever is presented with this proof and then contradicts it afterwards, we say, yes, he is in the Fire, because he contradicted the practice of the righteous predecessors. Did I make the matter clear to you?
The questioner : Yes, yes.