What is the ruling on shaving the beard due to the necessity of national service?
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The questioner : We have a question.
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : Regarding the issue, may Allah bless you, if a person is forced to shave his beard, what are the consequences for him?
The Shaykh : If he is truly forced, then nothing whatsoever is required of him. But I fear that he is not truly forced.
The questioner : If he is under a specific system, for example, like the army, for instance, and the army system does not allow it.
The Shaykh : Yes, for this reason I said if he is truly forced.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then there is no sin on him. But if he is not truly forced, then the sin is on him, just as it is on others. Now, you gave the example of the army.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The army service, as you all know, is of two types: compulsory and voluntary. So, if one is forced to serve and shaves his beard, then it is said of him that there is no sin on him. But the one who, as they say, volunteers and is not forced to work, then he is not forced to shave. Therefore, it must be noted that necessity, as the scholars and jurists say, is measured by its extent. Many young people today are afflicted in order to make a living by being a worker or an employee in a bank, for example. They say to us, "I am compelled." We say, hypothetically, and I do not say that there is [compulsion] as I said regarding shaving the beard, because there is indeed compulsion there. But I say here, hypothetically, if you are compelled to work in a place where you consider the prohibitions of Allah permissible, then there is no harm on you, because Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. But is it true that you are compelled to earn the sustenance of yourself, your wife, and your children, if you are married and have children, to work in a bank about which he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1598 No, [An-Nisa 4:97] The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: And in another narration, So be excellent, meaning be good, in seeking provision in accordance with the Shari'ah. The conclusion is that many people consider themselves compelled when they are not compelled. Therefore, let a Muslim fear Allah and not...
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : Regarding the issue, may Allah bless you, if a person is forced to shave his beard, what are the consequences for him?
The Shaykh : If he is truly forced, then nothing whatsoever is required of him. But I fear that he is not truly forced.
The questioner : If he is under a specific system, for example, like the army, for instance, and the army system does not allow it.
The Shaykh : Yes, for this reason I said if he is truly forced.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then there is no sin on him. But if he is not truly forced, then the sin is on him, just as it is on others. Now, you gave the example of the army.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The army service, as you all know, is of two types: compulsory and voluntary. So, if one is forced to serve and shaves his beard, then it is said of him that there is no sin on him. But the one who, as they say, volunteers and is not forced to work, then he is not forced to shave. Therefore, it must be noted that necessity, as the scholars and jurists say, is measured by its extent. Many young people today are afflicted in order to make a living by being a worker or an employee in a bank, for example. They say to us, "I am compelled." We say, hypothetically, and I do not say that there is [compulsion] as I said regarding shaving the beard, because there is indeed compulsion there. But I say here, hypothetically, if you are compelled to work in a place where you consider the prohibitions of Allah permissible, then there is no harm on you, because Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. But is it true that you are compelled to earn the sustenance of yourself, your wife, and your children, if you are married and have children, to work in a bank about which he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses
لعن الله آكل الربا و موكله و كاتبه و شاهديهWas not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?
ألم تكن أرض الله واسعة فتهاجروا فيهاO people, fear Allah and be excellent in your seeking, for what is with Allah is not attained through what is forbidden.
يا أيها الناس اتقوا الله و أجملوا في الطلب فإن ما عند الله لا ينال بالحرامNo soul will die until it has completed its provision and its term.
إن نفسا لن تموت حتى تستكمل رزقها و أجلها
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.