Clarification that cursing men who imitate women and women who imitate men is among the major sins, and that shaving the beard is a form of imitation.
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The Shaykh : The one who is commanded to do so, if the one who opposes it has committed a major sin, is that sufficient? This is what is sufficient. If this is your basis, then your pillar has collapsed.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : I say: The command of the Messenger indicates obligation. This is known by the well-known condition, provided there is no factor that diverts the ruling.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Fine; the prohibition of the Messenger of something indicates prohibition, provided there is also no factor that diverts the ruling. But does his command for something that indicates obligation mean that leaving it is a major sin? Or does the prohibition of the Messenger of something mean that whoever commits it has committed a major sin? The answer is: No, this does not mean that it is among the... And if you have not done it yet, I see—and I mean what I say—if you have not done it yet—since this is the case—fine; I see that you should return to *Al-Zawa'ir 'an Iqtiraf al-Kaba'ir* by the jurist al-Haythami. There you will find a study on the evidences that, if found, necessitate that the matter be a major sin, besides the evidences I mentioned. This indicates that the command is obligatory and the prohibition is forbidden, and no more. So your statement: "The command of the Messenger" does not benefit you in proving it is a major sin. Is there anything else you recall besides this?
The questioner : Regarding the cursing of those who imitate, the cursing, this is shaving the beards, so is it imitation of women?
The Shaykh : Perfect, this is the answer. I told you earlier, suggesting you refer to *Al-Zawa'ir*. There it is mentioned that, according to many scholars, one of the evidences that something is a major sin is its association with cursing; either from Allah or from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). But here, regarding others, it is not regarding us, as we believe. There is no doubt that this cursing indicates the cursing of imitation, men imitating women. So whoever is convinced like us that a man shaving his beard is clear imitation of women has no choice but to submit fully that it is among the major sins. But you need to consider the possibility that not everyone...
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Welcome, how are you? ... Welcome, welcome... --
So this observation should be noted so that we do not be harsh with those who oppose us and say that we are imposing our opinion on others. We say this is our opinion, this is clear imitation. And as I say, perhaps you will encounter an example like this, so let me say: If a woman put a fake beard on her cheeks, like the British or English lords, no one among the beardless men would refrain from saying that this woman is imitating men, even if he himself is imitating women. So a man shaving his beard is the opposite of that; he is imitating women, with a very large difference between the two imitations, if this expression is correct. Does Abu Malik allow us? Two imitations, is that okay?
Abu Malik: It is okay.
The Shaykh : With the large difference between the two imitations, why? The woman does not increase or make more effort than just putting on a wig, while the man throws his beard to the ground, then stands in front of the mirror every day, perhaps morning and evening, and so on. Then, on the occasion of the blessed festival, he disobeys Allah, struggling with evil by imitating the disbelievers and women, and so on. How great is the difference between the two imitations!! Yet why do men criticize a woman for putting a fake beard on her face? Because it is not customary. But if the fashion of women wearing fake beards became common, it would be like men shaving their beards.
Abu Malik: They are the same!
The Shaykh : And we do not measure, meaning! So custom is very dominant. This example clearly shows that shaving the beard is among the major sins. This is for the one who does not want to follow his desires, customs, and traditions, and so on. This is for the one who wants to submit to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:[An-Nisa 4:65].
The questioner : I think the imitation, Shaykh, is also in two imitations here; imitation of women and imitation of the disbelievers!
The Shaykh : Of the disbelievers, yes, yes. But the difference, as is not hidden from you, is that we have the cursing of men who imitate women and women who imitate men, but we do not have the cursing of those who imitate the disbelievers. We have the commands.
The questioner : But there is somethingSunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani).
The Shaykh : No problem, we are talking about the cursing which is clear evidence of a major sin.
Yes, yes, fine.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : I say: The command of the Messenger indicates obligation. This is known by the well-known condition, provided there is no factor that diverts the ruling.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Fine; the prohibition of the Messenger of something indicates prohibition, provided there is also no factor that diverts the ruling. But does his command for something that indicates obligation mean that leaving it is a major sin? Or does the prohibition of the Messenger of something mean that whoever commits it has committed a major sin? The answer is: No, this does not mean that it is among the... And if you have not done it yet, I see—and I mean what I say—if you have not done it yet—since this is the case—fine; I see that you should return to *Al-Zawa'ir 'an Iqtiraf al-Kaba'ir* by the jurist al-Haythami. There you will find a study on the evidences that, if found, necessitate that the matter be a major sin, besides the evidences I mentioned. This indicates that the command is obligatory and the prohibition is forbidden, and no more. So your statement: "The command of the Messenger" does not benefit you in proving it is a major sin. Is there anything else you recall besides this?
The questioner : Regarding the cursing of those who imitate, the cursing, this is shaving the beards, so is it imitation of women?
The Shaykh : Perfect, this is the answer. I told you earlier, suggesting you refer to *Al-Zawa'ir*. There it is mentioned that, according to many scholars, one of the evidences that something is a major sin is its association with cursing; either from Allah or from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). But here, regarding others, it is not regarding us, as we believe. There is no doubt that this cursing indicates the cursing of imitation, men imitating women. So whoever is convinced like us that a man shaving his beard is clear imitation of women has no choice but to submit fully that it is among the major sins. But you need to consider the possibility that not everyone...
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Welcome, how are you? ... Welcome, welcome... --
So this observation should be noted so that we do not be harsh with those who oppose us and say that we are imposing our opinion on others. We say this is our opinion, this is clear imitation. And as I say, perhaps you will encounter an example like this, so let me say: If a woman put a fake beard on her cheeks, like the British or English lords, no one among the beardless men would refrain from saying that this woman is imitating men, even if he himself is imitating women. So a man shaving his beard is the opposite of that; he is imitating women, with a very large difference between the two imitations, if this expression is correct. Does Abu Malik allow us? Two imitations, is that okay?
Abu Malik: It is okay.
The Shaykh : With the large difference between the two imitations, why? The woman does not increase or make more effort than just putting on a wig, while the man throws his beard to the ground, then stands in front of the mirror every day, perhaps morning and evening, and so on. Then, on the occasion of the blessed festival, he disobeys Allah, struggling with evil by imitating the disbelievers and women, and so on. How great is the difference between the two imitations!! Yet why do men criticize a woman for putting a fake beard on her face? Because it is not customary. But if the fashion of women wearing fake beards became common, it would be like men shaving their beards.
Abu Malik: They are the same!
The Shaykh : And we do not measure, meaning! So custom is very dominant. This example clearly shows that shaving the beard is among the major sins. This is for the one who does not want to follow his desires, customs, and traditions, and so on. This is for the one who wants to submit to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:
But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًاThe questioner : I think the imitation, Shaykh, is also in two imitations here; imitation of women and imitation of the disbelievers!
The Shaykh : Of the disbelievers, yes, yes. But the difference, as is not hidden from you, is that we have the cursing of men who imitate women and women who imitate men, but we do not have the cursing of those who imitate the disbelievers. We have the commands.
The questioner : But there is something
He who copies any people is one of them.
من تشبَّه بقومً فهو منهمThe Shaykh : No problem, we are talking about the cursing which is clear evidence of a major sin.
Yes, yes, fine.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.