Ruling on a woman seeking divorce because her husband refuses to let his beard grow

We now move on to a message received by the program from one of our female listeners, who has coded her name with the letters (M. M). Our sister has a long message, all of it complaints and observations about her husband. She says: I am an eighteen-year-old girl, committed to the religion, praise be to Allah. My father married me off when I was sixteen to a man who has two wives and fifteen children, the eldest of whom is my age. I complain about my husband, whom I order to let his beard grow in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, but he does not do so; rather, he trims it to the last bit. If it were not for the abundance of gray hair, he would shave it with a razor. Because he says that the razor increases gray hair, he has adopted trimming instead of shaving. Every time I try to repeat the advice, he says, "Do not interfere in my affairs." Please note that I have not yet borne any children from him. So tell me, O honorable Shaykh, should I seek divorce from that man, or should I live and be patient? And how do you advise me? May Allah reward you with good. Please note that I consider him a sinner against Allah and His Messenger.
Answer: You have done well in forbidding what is wrong. May Allah reward you with good. You have done what is obligatory in forbidding what is wrong. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is the One who guides whom He wills, as He, Exalted is He, said: [al-Baqarah: 272], and He, Exalted is He, says: [al-Qasas: 56]. It is obligatory for him to fear Allah and to obey the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: , and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . It is obligatory for him to fear Allah, to obey the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and to let his beard grow, honor it, and leave it full in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and out of fear of the anger of Allah. It is obligatory for him to listen and obey the command of Allah and His Messenger, and to thank you for the good you have done, and to accept your advice; because you have done what is befitting and what is obligatory.
As for what concerns seeking divorce, this is a matter that returns to you. If you see the benefit in seeking divorce, there is no harm. If he persists in his state and you do not bear children from him, there is no barrier to seeking divorce, perhaps Allah will provide you with one who is better than him, and will provide you with offspring as well. This is a legitimate excuse in the Shari'ah. There is no harm in your seeking divorce if he permits it to be done; that is good. Perhaps Allah will provide you with what is better for you. Yes.