How to respond to those who cite the actions of Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah as evidence for the permissibility of taking from the beard what exceeds a handful?

The questioner : How do we respond to those who cite the actions of Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah as evidence for taking from the beard what exceeds a handful?

The Shaykh : Yes, when did they take it?

The questioner : Yes

The Shaykh : When did Ibn 'Umar take it?

The questioner : As is established regarding the action of Ibn 'Umar, that he used to take from his beard

The Shaykh : When, when did he take it?

The questioner : During Hajj

The Shaykh : Well, those who cited the action of Ibn 'Umar, unfortunately, went too far and said, "Take it during Hajj and otherwise." But the evidence must correspond to the proof.

The questioner : And what about the rest of the Companions?

The Shaykh : From among them?

The questioner : Abu Hurayrah

The Shaykh : Is this established from him?

The questioner : Because it is mentioned in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah

The Shaykh : Yes, and the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah contains a lot of weak narrations. Let us descend with you to the furthest limit and say: It is authentic from Ibn 'Umar that he took from his beard during Hajj and other than Hajj, and from Abu Hurayrah, and from so-and-so and so-and-so of the Companions. We have the statement of their Imam, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: Did he say, "And it is permissible for you to take what exceeds a handful"? Yes. Well, with what will you argue with your Lord on the Day of Resurrection? Allah says: What will you say? You will say, "By Allah, I heard that Ibn 'Umar, or Abu Hurayrah, or another of the Companions did this." Can you know that? Such matters, when there is an explicit text in them, do not ask. Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Soon there will come down upon you stones from the sky. I say, 'The Messenger of Allah said,' and you say, 'Abu Bakr and 'Umar said.'" And where is Ibn 'Umar in comparison to 'Umar, and where is Abu Hurayrah in comparison to Abu Bakr? And yet, Ibn 'Abbas rebuked those who oppose the saying of the Messenger and the saying of Allah, and the saying of the Messenger, with the saying of these two Imams about whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he said: Do you understand? Take this as a rule with you: Do not oppose the saying of the Messenger with the saying of anyone, nor with the action of anyone. But excuse Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah in their contradiction of the apparent text. Excuse them by saying that this was ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), and they are excused for it, just as 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was excused for completing the prayer in Mina. And let this be a rule with you: Any person who contradicts the Qur'an or the Sunnah, excuse him, but do not argue with his saying or his action. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.