The ruling on trimming the beard, and is the ruling on trimming it the same as the ruling on shaving it?

Question:
Is it permissible to shave the sideburns? What is the ruling on trimming the beard? And is the ruling on trimming it the same as the ruling on shaving it?

Answer:
The beard is an honor from Allah for the man, and Allah made it a distinguishing feature for him from women, and a distinguishing feature for him from the disbelievers and the transgressors who shave their beards. It is adornment for men, it is light on the face, and it is a distinguishing feature for him from women. Therefore, it is not permissible for him to subject it to shaving or trimming. He should not shave it, nor trim it, nor shave the sideburns along with the cheeks; because the beard includes the hair that grows on the cheeks and the chin. So whatever grows on the cheeks and the chin is the beard.
Likewise, what is under the lower lip is included in the beard, so it is not permissible for him to trim it or shave it. Rather, he must honor it, let it grow, and keep it full; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded to let the beards grow and trim the mustaches, and he said: , and he said (peace and blessings be upon him): , and in one wording: , and .
So the Muslim must keep it full and let it grow, and it is forbidden for him to trim it or shave it. This is the obligatory duty of the Muslim. He should not be content to resemble his sister, his daughter, his aunt, or his mother, or the disbelievers or the transgressors. Rather, he should tend to it and keep it full so that he preserves the mark of men and the faces of men, and so that he distances himself from resembling the Zoroastrians and the polytheists who shave them and lengthen the mustaches. The mustache is trimmed and shaved, and the beard is let grow and left loose. This is what is prescribed, and this is what is obligatory. And Allah is the One to be asked for help.