❀ Ruling on Praying Behind an Imam with a Beard Shorter Than a Fist ❀
Taken from: “Ahkam wa Masail – In Light of Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 01, Page 521
❖ Question
What do the scholars of religion and the esteemed jurists of Sharī‘ah say regarding the issue of an Imam whose beard is shorter than a fist-length, i.e., less than the supposed Shar‘i limit—
Is it permissible to pray behind such an Imam or not, whether the prayer is obligatory or supererogatory?
❖ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
In this question, a “fist-length” beard has been assumed as the Shar‘i standard, whereas the Sharī‘ah has not established any such specific measurement for the beard.
The only directive found in the Sharī‘ah is:
{اَعْفُوا اللِّحٰی}
“Let the beards grow.”
As for appointing someone who trims or shaves the beard as the Imam for leading prayer, I am not aware of any verse from the Qur’an or any Hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at present that explicitly addresses whether or not such a person can lead the prayer.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
