A Response to Those Who Say: Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah Permit Trimming the Beard Beyond a Handful
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How do we respond to those who cite the actions of Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah as evidence for taking from the beard what exceeds a handful?
When did Ibn 'Umar take it?The questioner: Regarding what is established from Ibn 'Umar that he used to trim his beard.
The Shaykh: When?The questioner: During the Hajj.
The Shaykh: Those who argued based on the action of Ibn 'Umar, unfortunately, went too far and said: "Trim it during Hajj and otherwise." The argument must correspond to the evidence.
The questioner: And what about the rest of the Companions?The Shaykh: From whom among them?The questioner: Abu Hurayrah.
The Shaykh: Is this established from him?The questioner: It is reported in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah.
The Shaykh: And the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah contains a great deal of weak material.
And let us descend with you to the furthest limit,We say: It is authentic from Ibn 'Umar that he trimmed his beard during Hajj and outside of Hajj, and from Abu Hurayrah and so-and-so and so-and-so from the Companions.
We have the statement of their Imam, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: "Let the beards grow long" Did he say: "And you may take what exceeds a handful"?The questioner: No.
The Shaykh: With what will you argue with your Lord on the Day of Resurrection?And Allah says: [Surah al-Qasas: 65] What will you say?She says: By Allah, I heard from Ibn 'Umar or another of the Companions that he did this. You cannot do that.
So when a text comes in such matters, do not ask,Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: [You are on the verge of having stones from the sky rained down upon you,I say: The Messenger of Allah said, and you say: "Abu Bakr and 'Umar said"] And where is Ibn 'Umar in comparison to 'Umar, and where is Abu Hurayrah in comparison to Abu Bakr? And yet, Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) rebuked those who opposed the statement of Allah and the statement of His Messenger with the statements of these two Imams about whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Follow the two after me, Abu Bakr and 'Umar" And he said: "If they obey Abu Bakr and 'Umar, they will be guided" .
Take this as a rule for yourself: Do not oppose the statement of the Messenger with the statement of anyone, nor with the action of anyone. But excuse Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah for their contradiction of the apparent text. Excuse them by saying that this was ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), so they are excused in it, just as 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was excused for completing the prayer in Mina,And let this be a rule for you: Any person who contradicts the Qur'an or the Sunnah, excuse them, but do not argue with their statement or their action.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.
When did Ibn 'Umar take it?The questioner: Regarding what is established from Ibn 'Umar that he used to trim his beard.
The Shaykh: When?The questioner: During the Hajj.
The Shaykh: Those who argued based on the action of Ibn 'Umar, unfortunately, went too far and said: "Trim it during Hajj and otherwise." The argument must correspond to the evidence.
The questioner: And what about the rest of the Companions?The Shaykh: From whom among them?The questioner: Abu Hurayrah.
The Shaykh: Is this established from him?The questioner: It is reported in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah.
The Shaykh: And the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah contains a great deal of weak material.
And let us descend with you to the furthest limit,We say: It is authentic from Ibn 'Umar that he trimmed his beard during Hajj and outside of Hajj, and from Abu Hurayrah and so-and-so and so-and-so from the Companions.
We have the statement of their Imam, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: "Let the beards grow long" Did he say: "And you may take what exceeds a handful"?The questioner: No.
The Shaykh: With what will you argue with your Lord on the Day of Resurrection?And Allah says:
And [mention] the Day He will call them and say, "What did you answer the messengers?"
وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا أَجَبْتُمُ الْمُرْسَلِينَSo when a text comes in such matters, do not ask,Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: [You are on the verge of having stones from the sky rained down upon you,I say: The Messenger of Allah said, and you say: "Abu Bakr and 'Umar said"] And where is Ibn 'Umar in comparison to 'Umar, and where is Abu Hurayrah in comparison to Abu Bakr? And yet, Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) rebuked those who opposed the statement of Allah and the statement of His Messenger with the statements of these two Imams about whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Follow the two after me, Abu Bakr and 'Umar" And he said: "If they obey Abu Bakr and 'Umar, they will be guided" .
Take this as a rule for yourself: Do not oppose the statement of the Messenger with the statement of anyone, nor with the action of anyone. But excuse Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah for their contradiction of the apparent text. Excuse them by saying that this was ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), so they are excused in it, just as 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was excused for completing the prayer in Mina,And let this be a rule for you: Any person who contradicts the Qur'an or the Sunnah, excuse them, but do not argue with their statement or their action.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.