Fatwa #53373 April 2002United States of America
Assalaamo Alaikum Imam Saheb, would you kindly quote the Hadith, if there's any, in which the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has warned against.....
Question
...keeping beard less then a fist and cursed those who are guilty of doing so.Please spare us from your generic answer on the subject Mention of Hadith and the Ahadith book that contains it would be sufficient. We truly appreciate your help.
Answer
THE LAWS OF THE BEARD AND THE HAIR IN THE LIGHT OF THE AHADITH%0D%0Aby Moulana Fadhlur Rahmaan Saheb%0D%0A%0D%0A3 - PROOF THAT TO KEEP A BEARD IS WAAJIB%0D%0AAll Ulema regard keeping of the beard at least one fist length, as being%0D%0AWaajib or Fardh and trimming it less than this as Haraam on the basis that%0D%0Ait is the nature and disposition blessed upon man by Allaah Ta'aala.%0D%0ASimilarly it was the pattern and practice of all the Ambiyaa%0D%0A(Alaihis%ADSalaam).Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has always emphatically%0D%0Acommanded the keeping of the beard. Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and%0D%0Ahis blessed Companions also practised upon it. Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi%0D%0Awasallam) abhorred such Kaafirs who shaved their beards. He disliked even%0D%0Alooking at them.%0D%0A%0D%0AAHAADITH%0D%0A%0D%0AIbn Umar (Radhiallahu-anhu) narrates that Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)%0D%0Ahas said: "Oppose the Mushrikeen (idolaters) and lengthen the beard and%0D%0Ashorten the moustache". [Bukhari Vol 2 pg 875]%0D%0A%0D%0AAbu Hurairah (Radhiallahu-anhu) narrates that Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi%0D%0Awasallam) has said: "Trim the moustache and lengthen the beard (let the%0D%0Abeard hang). Oppose the fire worshippers". [Muslim Vol 1 pg 129 Pakistani%0D%0AEdition]%0D%0A%0D%0AAyesha (Radhiallahu-anha) narrates that Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)%0D%0Ahas said: "Ten things are fitrat (natural). To cut the moustache and%0D%0Alengthen the beard (are from amongst these ten things)." [Muslim Vol 1 pg%0D%0A129]%0D%0A%0D%0AIbn Abbas (RA) reports from Hadhrat Ayesha (Radhiallahu-anha) narrates that%0D%0ANabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has cursed such men who imitate women and%0D%0Asuch women who imitate men. In one narration it stated that such people%0D%0Ashould be thrown out of their houses. [Bukhari Vol 2 pg 874]%0D%0A%0D%0AFrom the above narrations the Mujtahideen and Fuqaha have decreed that it is%0D%0Awaajib to keep a beard, because there is a common order mentioned in the%0D%0AHadith proving wujoob (compulsory) and when there is no reason to take any%0D%0Aother meaning. In these Ahaadith there is no other reason, hence it proves%0D%0Awujoob.%0D%0A%0D%0AImaan Nawawi writes in the commentary of Sahih Muslim that the word "Ifaa"%0D%0A(as mentioned in the Hadith) means to lengthen. The word "afoo" means the%0D%0Asame. It was the habit of the Persians to shave their beards. The shariat%0D%0Ahas forbidden it. [commentary of Sahib Muslim Vole 1 Pg 129]. Thereafter%0D%0AImaan Nawawi (RA) writes five words have been mentioned in the various%0D%0Anarrations. The explanation of all these words are that the beard should be%0D%0Akept in its original form. [Vol 1 pg 129).%0D%0A%0D%0AHafiz ibn Hajar(RA) has also written in the commentary of Sahih Bukhari that%0D%0Athe fire worshipers used to shave the beards and some of them used to trim%0D%0Ait. The Ahaadith has ordered that these ways should be opposed. [Fathul%0D%0ABaari Vol 10 pg 288]%0D%0A%0D%0AAll the Sahaba, Tabieen and pious believers have acted upon this order of%0D%0ANabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Acting contrary to this order has not%0D%0Abeen recorded. Instead, stern warnings and admonitions have been narrated%0D%0Afor not keeping a beard. Therefore, this command is wajib (compulsory).%0D%0A%0D%0AHadith No. 4 on P.6 indicates that by shaving the beard, amounts to%0D%0Aimitating women, and therefore cursed by Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)%0D%0Aand being distanced from the mercy of Allaah. The sin on which a stern%0D%0Awarning is given is regarded as a Major Sin. Thus to shave the beard is also%0D%0Aa major sin, and the person who commits a major sin is faasiq (i.e. being%0D%0Aoutside the bounds of Allaah's orders and obedience). The Imaamat and Azaan%0D%0Aof a Faasiq is Makrooh, similarly a faasiq's testification and evidence is%0D%0Arejected. Therefore the Muftis have passed the ruling of wujoob for keeping%0D%0Aa beard. (May Allaah save all the Muslims from this curse).%0D%0A%0D%0AAN INSTANCE OF NABI (SALLALLAAHU ALYHI WASALLAM'S) ABHORRENCE FOR THE%0D%0ASHAVING OF THE BEARD%0D%0A%0D%0AHafiz Ibn Katheer(RA) has quoted an incident in his book, Al Bidayah wa%0D%0ANihaya, that Bazaan, a minister of the king of Persia (Kisra) sent two men%0D%0Ato capture Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) (May Allaah forbid). When two%0D%0Amen came, Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) disliked to even look at them as%0D%0Atheir beards were shaven and their moustaches long. Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi%0D%0Awasallam) asked them: "Who ordered you to do this (i.e. shave your beards%0D%0Aand keep your moustaches long)". They replied: "Our Rabb, Kisra (King of%0D%0APersia)". Upon this Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied: "But My Rabb%0D%0Aordered me to lengthen my beard and cut my moustache." [Al Bidayah wa Nihaya%0D%0AVol.1 pg 270]%0D%0A%0D%0AThis incident has been quoted in many books%0D%0A%0D%0ANote: Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) objected to their actions although%0D%0Athey were Kaafirs, and even disliked looking at them. Hence, one can%0D%0Aimagine how unpleased and unhappy Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallain) will be%0D%0Aif an Ummati of his who claims to have love for him, shaves the beard. One%0D%0Aof the three questions that will be asked in the grave "What have you to say%0D%0Aregarding this person". According to some Ulema the blessed face of Nabi%0D%0A(Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) will be presented when this question will be%0D%0Aasked. How will a person who shaves his beard face Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi%0D%0Awasallam). What a great deprivation will it be if Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi%0D%0Awasallam) has to turn his face away because of his unhappiness and dislike.%0D%0ASimilarly on the plains of reckoning also a person will come in front of%0D%0ANabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) for intersession. What answer will a%0D%0Aperson have to offer if Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has to ask that%0D%0Ayou neglected my way and chose the ways of my enemies, the Kuffaar and the%0D%0AMushrikeen?"%0D%0A%0D%0AMay Allaah Ta'aala grant us the ability to repent sincerely and conform to%0D%0Athe Sunnat of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).%0D%0A%0D%0AMany sins are such that a person only remains a sinner while he is involved%0D%0Ain that particular sin e.g. adultery - homosexuality %ADdrinking - lying -%0D%0Astealing etc. When he stops doing so, then the sin also comes to an end.%0D%0ATrimming or shaving of the beard on the other hand is such a sin that until%0D%0Aa person does not repent and start keeping a Shari Beard, he will remain a%0D%0Aperpetual sinner. He will be regarded as a sinner even whilst sleeping or%0D%0Aeating and even whilst performing Ibaadat. This increases the seriousness of%0D%0Athis sin. At the time of Ibaadat, just as Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam)%0D%0Aabhorred it, similarly if Allaah Ta'aala does not focus the level of%0D%0Aacceptance on the person, then his Ibaadat will not reach the level of%0D%0Aacceptance. Then ponder and think what will be that person's condition in%0D%0Athe Aakhiraat (Hereafter)!%0D%0A%0D%0AAN INTERESTING INCIDENT%0D%0A%0D%0AMirza Qateel was a Persian poet of the past who rendered many poems on%0D%0AMarifat (Recognition -of Allaah) and wisdom (Hikmat). An Iranian, after%0D%0Areading Qateel's poems, became his ardent follower and finally came to meet%0D%0Ahim, expecting him to be a very pious person. When the Iranian person came,%0D%0Ahe saw the poet shaving his beard. Surprised, he asked "You are shaving your%0D%0Abeard?" Qateel replied: "Yes I am shaving my beard but I am not hurting%0D%0Aanyone's heart". Upon this the person immediately said: "Why not, you are%0D%0Ahurting Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam's) heart". Hearing this the poet%0D%0Afell unconscious. After regaining consciousness he recited a Persian couplet%0D%0Awhich means:%0D%0A%0D%0A"Thanks to you, for opening my eyes and making me understand".