Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:

(1)
Aḥfū:
To remove thoroughly,
the mustache should be well,
properly trimmed.

(2)
A‘fū al-liḥā:
‘I‘fa’ means to leave, to abandon,
and "liḥā" is the plural of "liḥyah".
(The hair of the cheeks and chin)

Hadith Authentication (Takhrij):
[147۔ البخاري فى : 77 كتاب اللباس : 65 باب إعفاء اللحي 5893]

Lexical Explanation:
«اَنْهِكُوْا»: To trim the moustache excessively.
«اَعْفُوْا»: Let them grow, i.e., leave them in their natural state.

Understanding the Hadith:
In the first narration, five natural practices are mentioned, whereas in another narration, ten practices are mentioned, in which the use of the tooth-stick (miswak), cleaning the beard, rinsing the mouth, performing istinja (cleansing after relieving oneself), and washing the joints of the fingers are added. [مسلم : كتاب الايمان 261، أبوداؤد 53، ترمذي 2757، ابن ماجه 293]
Furthermore, in the above-mentioned second and third narrations, there is an emphatic command regarding trimming the moustache and letting the beard grow, which should be adhered to with utmost effort.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah has given the fatwa that shaving the beard is haram (prohibited). [مجموع فتاويٰ و رسائل ابن عثيمين 81/11]

Hadith Commentary:
Keeping a beard is the Sunnah of all the noble Prophets (alayhimus-salam).
Congratulations are due to those people who shape their appearance according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
In today’s world, men have developed such an aversion to the beard that, in the majority, this habit has become deeply rooted, even though, according to wisdom and science as well, keeping a beard is extremely beneficial for men.
Refer to the relevant books.
For the believers, it is sufficient that this is the Sunnah of their beloved Messenger, the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Various words are used for growing the beard, such as: wafirū, awfirū, a‘fū, arji’ū, and awfū. Regarding these, Imam Nawawi rahimahullah states that all these words have the same meaning: that the beard should be left in its natural state. (Sharh Sahih Muslim by Nawawi: 1/129) The beard is among the symbols of Islam, by which a Muslim is recognized and identified. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has highlighted its importance in various ways, for example:
• The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam commanded to let it grow, and his command is for obligation unless there is an evidence diverting it from obligation.
• Tampering with it has been described as imitating the Jews, Christians, polytheists, and Magians, and he has commanded to oppose them, as is clear from the following hadiths:
• Oppose the polytheists, grow the beard and trim the mustache. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Libas, Hadith: 5892)
• Oppose the Jews and Christians, grow your beards and shorten your mustaches. (Musnad Ahmad: 5/264)
• Oppose the Magians, leave the beard in its natural state and trim the mustache. (Sahih Ibn Hibban: 1/408)
• One of the tricks of Shaytan is that he incites people to alter the creation of Allah. (: al-Nisa: 114)
Tampering with the beard is altering the creation of Allah, which we have been forbidden from.
• Growing the beard is among the acts of fitrah (natural disposition), as mentioned in the hadith. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Taharah, Hadith: 604 (261))
This hadith requires that it be left upon the fitrah, and that no unnatural act such as trimming or cutting be done to it.

(2)
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forbade men from imitating women, while shaving the beard is an imitation of women. The only way to remain safe from this is to leave it in its natural state.

(3)
Shaving the beard is an evil act, as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not even wish to look at those two Persian men who had shaved their beards.

(4)
Keeping the beard is not only the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, but also the way of all the Prophets alayhimussalam. Among all their followers, none is known to have shaved the beard.

(5)
When committing a sin, every person feels a certain pain within himself, but opposing the beard is such a crime that a person feels happy upon doing it and considers it an adornment for himself. What could be a greater insult than this, that the one who shaves his beard throws these sacred hairs into a filthy drain?

(6)
In light of the above matters, it does not befit a Muslim to remain without a beard and, by shaving it, please his enemy Shaytan. Imam Nawawi rahimahullah has written that there is one exception to the Prophetic command to grow the beard: when a woman grows beard hair, it is recommended (mustahabb) for her to remove it; similarly, if a child or mustache hair grows on the beard area, it should also be removed. (Fath al-Bari: 10/431)

(7)
Some scholars have a lenient view regarding trimming the beard. They present a hadith in this regard, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would take from the excess length and width of his beard. (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Adab, Hadith: 2762) Regarding this, Hafiz Ibn Hajar, quoting from Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, states that this hadith is munkar (rejected), and among its narrators is ‘Umar ibn Harun, whom a group has declared weak without exception. (No reference is given in the book) Similarly, it is narrated from Ibn ‘Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhum that they would, generally or on specific occasions, trim the beard and cheek hair beyond a fistful. Thus, from Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhu, this is found in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 5892; from Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu in Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d: 4/334; and from Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 4/85. However, from all three of these companions, the Prophetic command to grow the beard is also transmitted, as from Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhu in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 5892; from Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu in Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Taharah, Hadith: 603; and from Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu in Majma‘ al-Zawa’id: 5/169. On this basis, in our view, the narration of these companions is not to be acted upon, but rather the narration of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is to be followed. In any case, keeping the full beard without trimming is the Sunnah of all the Prophets alayhimussalam. Blessed are those who keep their appearance in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and do not tamper with this natural beauty. And Allah is the One whose help is sought.

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:

Let the beard grow fully,
because the meaning of "awfā al-nadhr" is,
he fulfilled the vow.
"awfā bi’l-wa‘d":
he fulfilled the promise.
"awfā al-kayl":
he measured out the full measure.
"awfā fulānan haqqahu":
he gave him his full right.

Explanation:
1:
Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhuma, who narrated this hadith with both of these words, whose understanding was praised by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself, and who followed the Sunnah to such an extent that where the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had made his camel sit and urinated, he too, even without necessity, would sit and urinate there in imitation—how can it be thought that he, who used to cut his beard more than a fist-length, was opposing the command of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam? This is not the case. Rather, the correct view is that this action of Ibn Umar is not against the hadith. The meaning of (tawfir) and (i‘fa) is also achieved by cutting more than a fist-length. He is an extremely devoted follower of the Sunnah among the Companions, and also well-versed in the Arabic language. Who can understand the command of the Messenger better than him? And who can follow it more closely? Therefore, the opinion of those scholars who give the fatwa to trim the beard after a fist-length carries weight, and this is among those issues in which the scholarly disagreement is strong and valid. And Allah knows best.

Urdu marginal note:
See Hadith: 15

15. Commentary:
➊ In this hadith, the words “shave the moustaches thoroughly” («أَحْفُوا الشَّوَارِبَ») are mentioned, whereas in the preceding narrations, trimming is mentioned. Thus, here exaggeration is intended, otherwise what is meant is trimming. It can also be said that both methods are permissible. Although Imam Malik rahimahullah disliked shaving the moustache, as it removes the distinction of a man and also involves resemblance to women. Imam Malik rahimahullah’s reasoning in this regard cannot be ignored, especially since the aforementioned reconciliation is possible.
➋ The meaning of keeping or growing the beard is that it should not be trimmed like the moustache, because the beard is a distinguishing feature of men, and shaving or trimming it is imitation of women, and this is forbidden.