Explaining the Imitation of Men by Women and Women by Men (Shaving the Beard)
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The Shaykh : ... The commanded matter is that the one who opposes it has committed a major sin. This is sufficient. If this is your reliance, then your pillar has collapsed. I say that the command of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) indicates obligation. This is known by the well-known condition: if there is no factor that diverts the ruling. The prohibition of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) of something indicates prohibition, provided there is no factor that diverts the ruling. But does his command of something, which indicates obligation, mean that leaving it is a major sin? Or does the prohibition of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) of something mean that whoever commits it has committed a major sin? The answer is no. And if you have not yet done so, I see, and I mean what I say, that if you have not yet done so, I see that you should return to *Al-Zawa'ir 'an Iqtiraf al-Kaba'ir* by Al-Haytami the jurist. There you will find a discussion of the evidences that, if found, necessitate that the command be a major sin, besides what I mentioned of those evidences. This indicates that the command indicates obligation and the prohibition indicates prohibition, and no more. So, your saying that the command of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) does not benefit you in establishing that it is a major sin. Is there anything else you recall besides this?
The questioner : Regarding the cursing of those who imitate, is shaving the beard an imitation of women?
The Shaykh : This is the answer. I told you to return to *Al-Zawa'ir*. There, it is mentioned by many scholars that one of the evidences for something being a major sin is its association with a curse, either from Allah or from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). But here, there is something regarding others and not regarding us, as I believe. There is no doubt that this curse indicates the cursing of imitation, the imitation of men by women. So, whoever is convinced like us that a man shaving his beard is a clear imitation of women has no choice but to submit to the fact that it is a major sin. But you must allow for the possibility that not everyone... This observation should be noted so that we do not be severe with those who differ from us, and so they do not say that we are imposing our opinion on others. We say this is our opinion, and this is a clear imitation. And as I say, perhaps you will encounter an example like this, so I say: if a woman were to put a fake beard on her cheeks, like the British or English lords, no man who shaves his beard would refrain from saying that this woman is imitating men, even if she 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. Abu Malik allows two imitations, is that okay?
Abu Malik: Is that okay...
The Shaykh : With the large difference between the two imitations: the woman does not increase or exert more effort than putting on what she does, merely putting on a wig, while the man throws his beard to the ground, then stands in front of the mirror every day, and perhaps morning and evening, and so on. Then, on the occasion of the blessed festival, he disobeys Allah by tying a *kuffah* (headband) with evil, imitating the disbelievers and women, and so on. There is a vast difference between the two imitations. Nevertheless, 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 prevalent, it would be like men shaving their beards. Abu Malik: They are equal!
The Shaykh : And we do not measure, meaning! So, custom is very dominant. This example clearly shows that shaving the beard is a major sin. 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 the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:65].
The questioner : Our Shaykh, there are also two likenesses here: imitation of women and imitation of the disbelievers!
The Shaykh : 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 of the saying: "Whoever resembles a people is one of them."
The Shaykh : No problem. We are talking about the curse, which is clear evidence of a major sin. Yes.
The questioner : Regarding the cursing of those who imitate, is shaving the beard an imitation of women?
The Shaykh : This is the answer. I told you to return to *Al-Zawa'ir*. There, it is mentioned by many scholars that one of the evidences for something being a major sin is its association with a curse, either from Allah or from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). But here, there is something regarding others and not regarding us, as I believe. There is no doubt that this curse indicates the cursing of imitation, the imitation of men by women. So, whoever is convinced like us that a man shaving his beard is a clear imitation of women has no choice but to submit to the fact that it is a major sin. But you must allow for the possibility that not everyone... This observation should be noted so that we do not be severe with those who differ from us, and so they do not say that we are imposing our opinion on others. We say this is our opinion, and this is a clear imitation. And as I say, perhaps you will encounter an example like this, so I say: if a woman were to put a fake beard on her cheeks, like the British or English lords, no man who shaves his beard would refrain from saying that this woman is imitating men, even if she 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. Abu Malik allows two imitations, is that okay?
Abu Malik: Is that okay...
The Shaykh : With the large difference between the two imitations: the woman does not increase or exert more effort than putting on what she does, merely putting on a wig, while the man throws his beard to the ground, then stands in front of the mirror every day, and perhaps morning and evening, and so on. Then, on the occasion of the blessed festival, he disobeys Allah by tying a *kuffah* (headband) with evil, imitating the disbelievers and women, and so on. There is a vast difference between the two imitations. Nevertheless, 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 prevalent, it would be like men shaving their beards. Abu Malik: They are equal!
The Shaykh : And we do not measure, meaning! So, custom is very dominant. This example clearly shows that shaving the beard is a major sin. 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 the Exalted 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 : Our Shaykh, there are also two likenesses here: imitation of women and imitation of the disbelievers!
The Shaykh : 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 of the saying: "Whoever resembles a people is one of them."
The Shaykh : No problem. We are talking about the curse, which is clear evidence of a major sin. Yes.