A man is known for open sinfulness and lying, despite having a beard and shortening his garment. Is it permissible for us to tell him that the beard is forbidden for you?
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The questioner : A man was seen committing open sinfulness, such as gambling, dancing, and lying. He was growing his beard and shortening his garment. Is it permissible for us to tell him that the beard is forbidden for you?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible. Without a doubt, this type of person has mixed a good deed with an evil one, and perhaps Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will forgive it for him. Just as it is not permissible to beautify what is ugly, it is not permissible to disfigure what is good. Just as it is not permissible to command what is wrong, it is not permissible to forbid what is right. If a man has grown his beard, that is an obligatory duty he has fulfilled. However, from another angle, if he is lying or committing open sinfulness or the like, this should not lead us to discourage him or turn him away from what is good and righteous work. On the contrary, we must take advantage of his good deed so that he increases in it and, because of it, stops the actions that contradict the Shari'ah.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible. Without a doubt, this type of person has mixed a good deed with an evil one, and perhaps Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will forgive it for him. Just as it is not permissible to beautify what is ugly, it is not permissible to disfigure what is good. Just as it is not permissible to command what is wrong, it is not permissible to forbid what is right. If a man has grown his beard, that is an obligatory duty he has fulfilled. However, from another angle, if he is lying or committing open sinfulness or the like, this should not lead us to discourage him or turn him away from what is good and righteous work. On the contrary, we must take advantage of his good deed so that he increases in it and, because of it, stops the actions that contradict the Shari'ah.