The Ruling on the Beard in Islam:
Shaving, Trimming, and Its Shar‘i Status
Source: Qur’an wa Hadith ki Roshni mein Ahkām o Masā’il, Vol. 1, p. 518
❖ Question:
- What is the ruling of Islam regarding the beard?
- To what extent is shaving or trimming it permissible?
- If the beard is not kept, is it a sin?
- And if due to some necessity one cannot keep it, what should be done?
- What should be the length/size of the beard?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
◄ The fist-length narration regarding the beard is not authentically established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
◄ Shaving, trimming, or cutting the beard is a sin and a crime.
◄ The reason is that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded:
{أَعْفُوْا اللِّحٰی}
{أَرْخُوْا}
{وَفِّرُوْا}
◄ There is no evidence that would divert these Prophetic commands from obligation (wujūb) to mere recommendation (istiḥbāb).
✅ Conclusion:
- Keeping the beard is fard (obligatory).
- Shaving, trimming, or cutting it is a major sin.
- The length of the beard has not been restricted by the Prophet ﷺ; the commands are to let it grow, leave it, and keep it full.
