Is letting the beard grow a recommended practice, and is it permissible to shave it off out of fear of injustice and aggression?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : The honorable Shaykh says: I am a young man from outside this country, and if I leave my beard and let it grow, I fear injustice and imprisonment if I return to my country. So what should I do? It may be said to me that if I go and come, I am a hypocrite, because I come to this country and let it grow, then I go to that country and shave it. So what should I do? Is it permissible for me to leave it? Is it a recommended practice for me to act upon it, or do I have the right to leave it? I hope you will inform me.
The Shaykh : Yes, shaving the beard is forbidden, and it is not permissible for a person to shave it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And if a person lets his beard grow in this country and then returns to his country with it grown, he has feared Allah [At-Talaq 65:2], [At-Talaq 65:4] We see people among our brothers who go to the countries the questioner refers to, and they have let their beards grow, and they return without being harmed, because Allah says: [At-Talaq 65:2-3].
Let this be the last question, because we do not like to prolong the session, as it is better for people to leave while saying, "I wish we had stayed longer," than for them to leave while saying, "Praise be to Allah who has freed us from it."
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
The questioner : May Allah reward our Shaykh for these words and benefit us all with what we have heard, and may Allah send prayers, peace, and blessings upon His servant and Messenger Muhammad.
The Shaykh : Yes, shaving the beard is forbidden, and it is not permissible for a person to shave it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Differ from the Zoroastrians, let the beards grow, and trim the mustaches.
خالفوا المجوس وفروا اللحى وجفوا الشواربAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out
ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجاAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.
ومن يتق الله يجعل له من أمره يسراAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا ويرزقه من حيث لا يحتسبLet this be the last question, because we do not like to prolong the session, as it is better for people to leave while saying, "I wish we had stayed longer," than for them to leave while saying, "Praise be to Allah who has freed us from it."
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
The questioner : May Allah reward our Shaykh for these words and benefit us all with what we have heard, and may Allah send prayers, peace, and blessings upon His servant and Messenger Muhammad.