A Scholarly Refutation of a Weak Ḥadīth on Trimming the Beard and Temples
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 405
Question by: Feroz, 11 Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1415 AH, Wednesday
Issue: What is the authenticity and meaning of the narration:"No one should trim the length of his beard at all, but he may trim from the temples."
—Narrated as a Marfū‘ ḥadīth from Abū Sa‘īd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه) by al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī
Referencing and Sources:
This narration appears in various Hadith compilations:
◈ Tārīkh Baghdād by al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī (Vol. 5, p. 187)
◈ Kanz al-‘Ummāl by ‘Alī al-Muttaqī (Vol. 6, p. 663, Ḥadīth No. 1781)
◈ al-Kāmil fī Ḍu‘afā’ al-Rijāl by Ibn ‘Adī (Vol. 5, p. 2018)
Chain of Narration Analysis (Sanad):
The chain of this narration includes the narrator ‘Ufayr ibn Ma‘dān, concerning whom the scholars of Hadith have passed critical judgments:
Statements of the Hadith Masters:
❖ Abū Ḥātim (رحمه الله):
“One should not engage with his Hadith.”
❖ Yaḥyā ibn Ma‘īn (رحمه الله):
“He is nothing.” — i.e., his narrations are considered baseless.
❖ Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (رحمه الله):
“The narration of ‘Aṭā is strange (gharīb), and I do not know anyone else narrating it except ‘Ufayr ibn Ma‘dān.”
Conclusion:
Due to the weakness of ‘Ufayr ibn Ma‘dān, the ḥadīth is not authentic. The consensus of the Hadith scholars clearly indicates its unreliability.
Therefore:
The practice of trimming hair from the temples cannot be validated through this narration.
It is incorrect to derive any legal ruling or permissibility from such a weak report.ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
