The Obligation to Let the Beard Grow Untrimmed
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Question:
A letter arrived at the program from Pakistan, sent by one of the brothers there. At the end of his letter, without explicitly stating his name, our brother included a set of questions, one of which asks: What is the limit for letting the beard grow? Some scholars in Pakistan have said that it is sufficient to leave whatever appears on the face, provided that it is not thought to be the result of not shaving for a few days. Is this statement correct or not?
Answer:
It is not correct. Rather, it is obligatory to let it grow, let it hang down, and preserve it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. In the two Sahihs, it is narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: And in a narration by al-Bukhari: And in Muslim, from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sahih Muslim 260 So he commanded to let the beard hang down, commanded to let it grow, and commanded to preserve it.
So it is obligatory for the Muslim to preserve it, let it grow, and let it hang down, and not to take anything from it, even if it becomes long. This is how his Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded him.
As for the one who is lax in this, he should not be imitated, and he should not be cited as an argument; because he is a sinner, and a sinner is not to be imitated in his sin. As for what is established from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that "he used to take what exceeded a handful during Hajj and Umrah"—he would grasp it with his hand, and whatever exceeded and came out from under his hand, he would take it—this occurred from him as an exercise of independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). And independent legal reasoning, when it contradicts an explicit text, is not accepted, even from the Companions. When independent legal reasoning contradicts the text, the text is what is considered.
So it is obligatory for the Muslim to rely on the text, on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and to let his beard grow and preserve it, and not to take anything from it, not in Hajj, not in Umrah, and not in anything else?
The beard is the hair that grows on the chin and the cheeks. This hair growing on the cheeks and the chin is called the beard. This is what the linguists said, as in al-Qamus and Lisan al-Arab.
So you, my brother, must adhere to letting it grow and preserving it, and not be deceived by the statement of one who is lax in this. May Allah grant everyone success and guidance.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good. May Allah guide your steps, and direct you to what is in the interest of the Muslims. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
A letter arrived at the program from Pakistan, sent by one of the brothers there. At the end of his letter, without explicitly stating his name, our brother included a set of questions, one of which asks: What is the limit for letting the beard grow? Some scholars in Pakistan have said that it is sufficient to leave whatever appears on the face, provided that it is not thought to be the result of not shaving for a few days. Is this statement correct or not?
Answer:
It is not correct. Rather, it is obligatory to let it grow, let it hang down, and preserve it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. In the two Sahihs, it is narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Trim your mustaches, let your beards grow, and differ from the polytheists
قصوا الشوارب، وأعفوا اللحى، خالفوا المشركينCut the beards short, let the beards grow, and be distinct from the polytheists.
قصوا الشوارب، ووفروا اللحى، خالفوا المشركينTrim closely the moustache, and grow beard, and thus act against the fire-worshippers.
جزوا الشوارب، وأرخوا اللحى، خالفوا المجوسSo it is obligatory for the Muslim to preserve it, let it grow, and let it hang down, and not to take anything from it, even if it becomes long. This is how his Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded him.
As for the one who is lax in this, he should not be imitated, and he should not be cited as an argument; because he is a sinner, and a sinner is not to be imitated in his sin. As for what is established from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that "he used to take what exceeded a handful during Hajj and Umrah"—he would grasp it with his hand, and whatever exceeded and came out from under his hand, he would take it—this occurred from him as an exercise of independent legal reasoning (ijtihad). And independent legal reasoning, when it contradicts an explicit text, is not accepted, even from the Companions. When independent legal reasoning contradicts the text, the text is what is considered.
So it is obligatory for the Muslim to rely on the text, on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and to let his beard grow and preserve it, and not to take anything from it, not in Hajj, not in Umrah, and not in anything else?
The beard is the hair that grows on the chin and the cheeks. This hair growing on the cheeks and the chin is called the beard. This is what the linguists said, as in al-Qamus and Lisan al-Arab.
So you, my brother, must adhere to letting it grow and preserving it, and not be deceived by the statement of one who is lax in this. May Allah grant everyone success and guidance.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good. May Allah guide your steps, and direct you to what is in the interest of the Muslims. Indeed, He is capable of all things.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.