Is it permissible to shave the beard for one who fears fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: If a man is in a country where he is unable to let his beard hang down, and his beard becomes a source of shubhah (a doubtful matter), is he allowed to shave it?
A: He is not allowed to do that. Rather, he must fear Allah and avoid the things that cause him harm. Those who fight against beards do not fight them for the sake of the beards themselves; they fight them because of some of the extremism, harm, and aggression that comes from some of their owners. If he is upright on the path, calls to Allah with his tongue, guides people to good, or focuses on his own affairs, maintains the prayer, and does not expose himself to people in the way they expose themselves to him—what happens in Egypt and elsewhere is only in the case of people who expose themselves to some of the officials by beating or killing them, or other forms of harm—therefore, the officials expose themselves to them.
Therefore, it is obligatory for the believer not to expose himself to trial, but to fear Allah, let his beard hang down, maintain the prayer, and advise his brothers with gentleness, with good words, not by transgressing against people, nor by beating them, nor by insulting or cursing them, but with good words and a good manner. Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Nahl: 125] And He the Exalted said: [Surah Al-Imran: 159] And Allah said to Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) when He sent them to Pharaoh: [Surah Ta-Ha: 44] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 27:14 And especially in this era; this is an era of gentleness, patience, and wisdom, not an era of harshness. Most of the people are in ignorance, heedlessness, and preference for this world. So patience is necessary, and gentleness is necessary, so that the da'wah (calling others to Islam) reaches its goal, so that people are informed, and so that they know.
And we ask Allah for guidance for everyone.
A: He is not allowed to do that. Rather, he must fear Allah and avoid the things that cause him harm. Those who fight against beards do not fight them for the sake of the beards themselves; they fight them because of some of the extremism, harm, and aggression that comes from some of their owners. If he is upright on the path, calls to Allah with his tongue, guides people to good, or focuses on his own affairs, maintains the prayer, and does not expose himself to people in the way they expose themselves to him—what happens in Egypt and elsewhere is only in the case of people who expose themselves to some of the officials by beating or killing them, or other forms of harm—therefore, the officials expose themselves to them.
Therefore, it is obligatory for the believer not to expose himself to trial, but to fear Allah, let his beard hang down, maintain the prayer, and advise his brothers with gentleness, with good words, not by transgressing against people, nor by beating them, nor by insulting or cursing them, but with good words and a good manner. Allah the Exalted said:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُSo by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَAnd speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."
فَقُولا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىWhenever there is compassion in something, it adorns it, and whenever it is removed from something it disgraces it.
إن الرفق لا يكون في شيء إلا زانه ولا ينزع من شيء إلا شأنهAnd we ask Allah for guidance for everyone.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.