Did the Salaf take from it by specifying the handful, or did they take it absolutely?

The questioner : Regarding the word "taking," Shaykh, is there any report from the Companions and some of the Tabi'un that they took it by specifying the handful, or did they simply take it?

The Shaykh : Some narrations specify the handful, while others do not include this specification. However, we stop at Ibn 'Umar, because Ibn 'Umar is one of the narrators of the hadith of leaving the beard long, and he was a witness to the Messenger (peace be upon him). So we interpret the leaving of the beard long that he narrated from the Messenger (peace be upon him) by his own application of it. This is especially true since we all know, if Allah wills, that Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was among the most severe, or rather the most eager and most severe, of the Companions in following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), even in details where he was contradicted by other Companions. It is impossible to imagine that he would see the Messenger ordering the beard to be left long and apply it as a general leaving of the beard, and then he would contradict that by doing what he was forbidden from. This is an impossible matter.