Abu.Bakr
13-03-06, 12:31 PM
Definition
The Arabic word for beard is lihyah. It derives from lahy (jaw) and lahyan (the
two jaws). Thus, a beard is defined as the hair that grows on the cheeks and
jaws- [Al-Qamus ul-Muhit by al-Fayruzabadi, and Lisan ul-Arab by Ibn Manzur]. It
includes the hair that grows on the temples, underneath the lower lip, the hair
of the chin, and the hair that grows on the lower side of the jaws.
Ruling
Growing the beard is wajib (mandatory) for all males who are capable of
doing so. As will be presented below, there is ample evidence for this in the
Sunnah, and it is the unanimous opinion of the ‘ulama’ of Islam.
Position of the Scholars
All the ‘ulama’ (scholars) of as-Salaf us-Salih (the Righteous early Muslims),
including the Four Imams, agree that shaving the beard is haram
(prohibited). They consider shaving it an impermissible mutilation, as has
been reported from Umar Bin Abdul Aziz- [At-Tarikh by Ibn Asakir]. They
considered the man who shaved his beard effeminate. Many of them would
not accept his testimony or allow him to lead the prayers.
THE HANAFIS
According to the Hanafis:
“It is prohibited for a man to cut his beard ... as for
cutting it shorter than a fist-length - as is done by
some people from the west and by the effeminate men
- no one permits this. And as for shaving it completely,
it is the doing of the Indian Jews and the Persian
Magians” [Persian Magians-Followers of an old religion, possibly
the same as the "Zoroastrians"] [Ad-Durr ul-Mukhtar].
Ibn-Abidayn said:
“It is prohibited for a man to cut his beard.” (Radd
ul-Muhtar [2:418])
THE MALIKIS
According to the Malikis:
“Shaving the beard is prohibited, as is cutting it if it
causes a (clear) mutilation. But if it becomes oversized,
and if cutting it would not appear as a mutilation, then
it may be cut; but that would be disliked and contrary
to that which is better.” [Sharh ur-Risalah by Abu al-Hasan,
and the commentary on it by al-Adwi]
Al-`Adwi said:
“It has been reported from Malik that he hated shaving
anything under the jaws, until he said, ‘It is from the
doing of the Magians.’ And it is prohibited to remove
the hair of the beard.” [Sharh ur-Risalah by Abu al-Hasan,
and the commentary on it by al-Adwi (2:411)]
Ibn Abd al-Barr said:
“It is prohibited to shave the beard, and it is not done
except by effeminate men.”[At-Tamhid]
THE SHAFI’IS
As for the Shafi’is, al-Imam ash-Shafi’i has expressed that it is prohibited to
shave the beard [al-Umm]. Also, al-Athru’i said, “The correct position is that it
is prohibited to totally shave the beard without a (medical) problem with it.”
[Sharh ul-Ubab].
THE HANBALIS
The Hanbali's agree without exception that it is prohibited to shave the beard
[Al-Insaf, Sharh ul-Muntaha, etc.].
Ibn Taymiyyah stated:
“It is prohibited to shave the beard.” [Al-Ikhtiyarat
ul-Ilmiyyah (p.6)]
As-Saffarini said:
“It is agreed in our mathhab that it is prohibited to
shave the beard.” [Ghitha ul-Albab (1:376)].
IBN HAZM
Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi said:
“All of the scholars agree that shaving the beard is a
form of mutilation, and is prohibited.” [Maratib ul-Ijma'
(p.157), and al-Muhalla (2:189)]
IBN TAYMIYYAH
Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
“Because of the authentic hadiths, it is prohibited to
shave the beard, and no one has ever permitted it.”
CONTEMPORARY SCHOLARS
The great scholars of our time have expressed that it is prohibited to shave
the beard or cut it short. Among those are Ali Mahfuz, Muhammad Nasir
ud-Din al-Albani, Abd ul-Aziz Bin Baz, al-Kandahlawi, Abu Bakr al-Jaza’iri,
Ismail al-Ansari, and many others.
Extent of the Beard
The commands of the Prophet ! clearly indicate that the beard should be
completely spared. Furthermore, the Prophet ! and his companions had full
and large beards.
There are no authentic reports indicating that the Prophet ! trimmed his
beard. However, there are authentic reports from a number of the sahabah -
particularly, Ibn-Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Ibn-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with
them all), indicating that they used to cut what extended beyond a fist-length.
There are similar reports as well from a number of the salaf such as Ibrahim
an-Nakhi, Malik, and Ahmad. [Several such authentic reports are compiled by
al-Albani in ad-Da’ifah (following hadith no. 2355)]
When ‘Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), went for Hajj or
Umrah, he used to hold his beard with his fist and cut whatever extended
beyond his fist. [Al-Bukhari]
Thus, the general command of sparing the beard should be restricted to the
understanding and practice of the sahabah, and its length below the chin should not
exceed a man's fist.
The Arabic word for beard is lihyah. It derives from lahy (jaw) and lahyan (the
two jaws). Thus, a beard is defined as the hair that grows on the cheeks and
jaws- [Al-Qamus ul-Muhit by al-Fayruzabadi, and Lisan ul-Arab by Ibn Manzur]. It
includes the hair that grows on the temples, underneath the lower lip, the hair
of the chin, and the hair that grows on the lower side of the jaws.
Ruling
Growing the beard is wajib (mandatory) for all males who are capable of
doing so. As will be presented below, there is ample evidence for this in the
Sunnah, and it is the unanimous opinion of the ‘ulama’ of Islam.
Position of the Scholars
All the ‘ulama’ (scholars) of as-Salaf us-Salih (the Righteous early Muslims),
including the Four Imams, agree that shaving the beard is haram
(prohibited). They consider shaving it an impermissible mutilation, as has
been reported from Umar Bin Abdul Aziz- [At-Tarikh by Ibn Asakir]. They
considered the man who shaved his beard effeminate. Many of them would
not accept his testimony or allow him to lead the prayers.
THE HANAFIS
According to the Hanafis:
“It is prohibited for a man to cut his beard ... as for
cutting it shorter than a fist-length - as is done by
some people from the west and by the effeminate men
- no one permits this. And as for shaving it completely,
it is the doing of the Indian Jews and the Persian
Magians” [Persian Magians-Followers of an old religion, possibly
the same as the "Zoroastrians"] [Ad-Durr ul-Mukhtar].
Ibn-Abidayn said:
“It is prohibited for a man to cut his beard.” (Radd
ul-Muhtar [2:418])
THE MALIKIS
According to the Malikis:
“Shaving the beard is prohibited, as is cutting it if it
causes a (clear) mutilation. But if it becomes oversized,
and if cutting it would not appear as a mutilation, then
it may be cut; but that would be disliked and contrary
to that which is better.” [Sharh ur-Risalah by Abu al-Hasan,
and the commentary on it by al-Adwi]
Al-`Adwi said:
“It has been reported from Malik that he hated shaving
anything under the jaws, until he said, ‘It is from the
doing of the Magians.’ And it is prohibited to remove
the hair of the beard.” [Sharh ur-Risalah by Abu al-Hasan,
and the commentary on it by al-Adwi (2:411)]
Ibn Abd al-Barr said:
“It is prohibited to shave the beard, and it is not done
except by effeminate men.”[At-Tamhid]
THE SHAFI’IS
As for the Shafi’is, al-Imam ash-Shafi’i has expressed that it is prohibited to
shave the beard [al-Umm]. Also, al-Athru’i said, “The correct position is that it
is prohibited to totally shave the beard without a (medical) problem with it.”
[Sharh ul-Ubab].
THE HANBALIS
The Hanbali's agree without exception that it is prohibited to shave the beard
[Al-Insaf, Sharh ul-Muntaha, etc.].
Ibn Taymiyyah stated:
“It is prohibited to shave the beard.” [Al-Ikhtiyarat
ul-Ilmiyyah (p.6)]
As-Saffarini said:
“It is agreed in our mathhab that it is prohibited to
shave the beard.” [Ghitha ul-Albab (1:376)].
IBN HAZM
Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi said:
“All of the scholars agree that shaving the beard is a
form of mutilation, and is prohibited.” [Maratib ul-Ijma'
(p.157), and al-Muhalla (2:189)]
IBN TAYMIYYAH
Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
“Because of the authentic hadiths, it is prohibited to
shave the beard, and no one has ever permitted it.”
CONTEMPORARY SCHOLARS
The great scholars of our time have expressed that it is prohibited to shave
the beard or cut it short. Among those are Ali Mahfuz, Muhammad Nasir
ud-Din al-Albani, Abd ul-Aziz Bin Baz, al-Kandahlawi, Abu Bakr al-Jaza’iri,
Ismail al-Ansari, and many others.
Extent of the Beard
The commands of the Prophet ! clearly indicate that the beard should be
completely spared. Furthermore, the Prophet ! and his companions had full
and large beards.
There are no authentic reports indicating that the Prophet ! trimmed his
beard. However, there are authentic reports from a number of the sahabah -
particularly, Ibn-Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Ibn-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with
them all), indicating that they used to cut what extended beyond a fist-length.
There are similar reports as well from a number of the salaf such as Ibrahim
an-Nakhi, Malik, and Ahmad. [Several such authentic reports are compiled by
al-Albani in ad-Da’ifah (following hadith no. 2355)]
When ‘Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), went for Hajj or
Umrah, he used to hold his beard with his fist and cut whatever extended
beyond his fist. [Al-Bukhari]
Thus, the general command of sparing the beard should be restricted to the
understanding and practice of the sahabah, and its length below the chin should not
exceed a man's fist.