What is the Sunnah regarding the beard? Is shaving it one of the major sins?

Question:
The listener, Husayn Saleh al-‘Uwaydi al-Harithi, sent a question saying: What is the Sunnah regarding the length of the beard? What is the evidence for that? Is one who shortens his beard considered a sinner? Is it one of the major sins or one of the minor sins? Please comment on this with complete clarity. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The beard must be left to grow and kept full, and there is no specific limit for this in the most correct opinion of the scholars. In fact, it is obligatory to let it grow, let it hang down, and keep it full. This is based on what is established in the two Sahihs from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: , and in the other wording: . And in Sahih Muslim, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) , from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: . The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify a limit, which indicates that it is obligatory to let it hang down, keep it full, and not cut it. It is not permissible to cut it or shave it, even if it becomes long; he has no right to cut it or shave it, in accordance with these established hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Also, because doing so contradicts the people of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and distances one from imitating women.
As for what al-Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) : , this is a hadith that is not authentic according to the scholars of knowledge. In its chain of narration, there is a man accused of lying, namely ‘Umar ibn Harun al-Balkhi. Therefore, it is a fabricated hadith, not authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Moreover, even if it were valid, it contradicts the authentic hadiths we mentioned earlier. Therefore, it is not permissible to rely on it or cling to it.
As for what is established from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he used to take from his beard during Hajj and ‘Umrah, cutting what exceeded a handful in length, and he interpreted the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Surah al-Hajj: 29]. This was from his opinion and independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). He would grasp it in his hand, and whatever extended below the hand from the bottom, he would cut during his Hajj and ‘Umrah. He considered this to be an interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Surah al-Hajj: 29]. This is not correct because it contradicts the authentic hadiths. May Allah forgive him . He exerted effort in this , but the reliance is on the Sunnah and the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). What contradicts the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is not relied upon. The most that can be said is: May Allah forgive him; he exerted effort and made a mistake, and Allah forgives him. Yes.

The presenter: He asks His Eminence the Shaykh: Is taking from it, shaving it, or shortening it considered one of the minor sins or one of the major sins?

The Shaykh: It is a sin against Allah the Mighty and Majestic. As for whether it is one of the major sins, that is a matter of consideration. However, it is among the sins that Allah the Glorious and Exalted has forbidden and prohibited His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from. As for whether it is one of the major sins, it can be said that it is a major sin because it is imitating the people of shirk (associating partners with Allah), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . This is a great warning. It can also be said that it is a minor sin because no warning or curse has been reported regarding it. A major sin, according to the scholars, is one for which a warning of punishment has been reported, or a curse has been pronounced, or a fixed punishment (hadd) has been established in this world.
So the conclusion is: It is possible that it is a major sin, and it is possible that it is a minor sin. As far as I know, there is no clear evidence that necessitates it being a major sin. Therefore, it is obligatory to obey Allah and His Messenger, whether the sin is major or minor. One must be cautious of disobeying Allah, the Exalted and Supreme. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.