The Ruling And Growth Of The Beard

Shari’ah has commanded males to lengthen their beards. This was the noble practice of Our beloved Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam as well as all previous Ambiya Alayhimus Salaam  his companions Radiallahu Anhum. Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam expressed great emphasis on lengthening the beard and counted it as one of the natural traits of a man. Below we have cited a few Ahadith regarding this:

a) Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has said: “Oppose the Mushrikeen (idolaters)
and lengthen the beard and shorten the moustache”. [Bukhari vol.2 pg.875]

b) Abu-Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has said: “Trim the moustache and lengthen the beard (let the beard hang). Oppose the fire worshippers”. [Muslim vol.1pg.129]

c) Ayesha Radiallahu Anha narrates that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has said: “Ten things are from Fitrah (natural
traits of a Muslim). To cut the moustache and lengthen the beard (i.e. these are from amongst those ten things) ……”. [Muslim vol.1 pg.129]

d) In Sahih Bukhari it is mentioned That Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar Radiallahu Anhu (who was a staunch and ardent follower of the Sunnah) used to catch hold of his beard with his fist and cut off those hairs of his beard that protruded beyond his fist. Explaining this Hadith the author of Badhlul Majhood has mentioned that If it was permissible to trim the beard shorter than a fist, he would have trimmed it shorter, but neither did he nor did any other Sahabi Radiallahu Anhu ever do so. In short, trimming the beard to a fist’s length and then not being rebuked by Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, shows the permissibility of shortening it to only a fist’s length, and not more.
[Badhlul-Majhood under the discussion of the Hadeeth of “Khisaalul-Fitrah.”] 

Due to the above narrations, the Fuqahaa (jurists) have decreed that it is Waajib (compulsory) to keep a beard. The length of which is no less than one fist. They have also regarded trimming it less than this as Haraam.

Allamah Ibn-ul- Humaam Rahimahullah has mentioned in Fathul Qadeer “Trimming of the beard less than a fist as is the practice of some western nations and also those men who mimic the ways of women is an act that has not been allowed by any of the reliable scholars”.
[Fath ul Qadeer vol.2 pg.348]

In Durrul-Mukhtaar an authentic reference work on Hanafi Fiqh ,the author Allamah Ibn Aabideen Rahimahullah has expressed the same opinion as Ibn-ul-Humaam Rahimahullah thereafter he goes on to mention;

“As for shaving the whole beard, that is the way of the Jews and fire worshippers.” Another place Allama Shami Rahimahullah explicitly mentions “ It is Haraam upon a man to cut his beard”.
[Durrul Muktaar vol. 2 pg. 418/pg. 298/vol. 6 pg. 406]

Hadrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Rahimahullah has written in Behisti Gohar “Shaving the beard and trimming it (less than a fist) is Haraam. However, to trim that which is more than a fist is correct. In the same way to neaten the beard by cutting a little on all four sides making it equal all around is correct.”
[Behishti Gohar Page 180]

In Kifayatul Mufti it is mentioned that Hadrat Mufti Kifayat-ul-lah Rahimahullah has said “ Trimming or shaving the beard is Haraam .By ‘trimming’ it is meant that a person trims it to such an extent that less than a fist is remaining.( The keeping of the beard to) the length of one fist is proven from Ahadith”
[kifayatul mufti vol. 9 pg.166]

Hadrat Moulana Muhammed Zakaria Rahimahullah has written a book on the obligation of lengthening the beard in which he mentions, “It is the view of the Ulama of all four Schools of thought as well as other Ulama that shaving the beard is Haraam and the one who shaves it is a sinner and a Faasiq”. Hadrat Moulana has also mentioned that not keeping a beard which is according to shariah causes one to be in perpetual sin.
[Wujoob I’faa ul Lihya]

A key point to remember that there is no difference of opinion amongst the reliable scholars regarding the impermissibilty of shaving or trimming the beard to less than a fist. The Fuqaha have also deemed the Imaamat of a person who shaves his beared as Makrooh-e-tahrimi. Such a person is also considered a “Faasiq” in Shari’ah.

A few important points regarding the beard:

– All facial hair that grows on the jawbone is considered to be part of the beard.
[Fatawa Mahmoodiya Vol. 19 Pg. 396 Farooqiya]

– It will not be permissible to cut or trim the hair under the lower lip since the Fuqaha have classified this as a bid’ah.
[Fatawa Mahmoodiya Vol.19 Pg. 396 Farooqiya] [Fatawa Hindiyyah vol.5 pg.358]

– The hair which grows above the jawbone near the ear is considered to be part of the head.

– It is also permissible to remove the hair that grows on the cheeks. [Fatawa Mahmoodiya V27 Pg. 506-508 Mahmoodiya]

– It is correct according to Shariah to make a line by removing the hair on the cheeks (above the jaw bone).
[Fatawa Mahmoodiya Pg. 507 V 27 Mahmoodiya] 

– The hair below the chin on the throat can also be trimmed, since they do not form part of the beard however it would be best not to remove it.
[Fatawa Mahmoodiya Pg. 506-508 V 27 Mahmoodiya] 

– Hair that grows on the jawbone can only be trimmed or neatened once they reach a fist in length.
[Kifaayatul Mufti Pg. 165 V9] [Fatawa Mahmoodiya Pg. 392 V 19 Farooqiya] [Fatawa Hindiyyah vol.5 pg.358]

An easy way to find out which part of the beard falls on the jawbone, is to open the mouth, then to feel along the beard. Wherever is hard, is the jawbone, while when you feel along the cheeks it is soft. This soft area may be trimmed.