Authored by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani حفظه الله
✔ Adheres strictly to Shari‘ah,
✔ Lives according to the Qur’an and Sunnah,
✔ Is most knowledgeable in Islamic teachings.
"Be different from the polytheists—grow your beards and trim your moustaches."
[Bukhari, Book of Dress, Hadith 5893]
Another narration states:
"Trim the moustaches thoroughly and grow the beards."
The Prophet ﷺ himself had a full, thick beard. He never shaved or trimmed it, nor did he command anyone to do so.
Hence, obeying the Prophet ﷺ is obligatory, and the mosque Imam must maintain a full beard.
One who shaves or trims the beard is regarded as a faasiq (open sinner). Therefore:
➤ Such a person should not be appointed as a permanent Imam.
→ because it is agreed upon that prayer behind a faasiq is valid, though not ideal.
✔ Gently advise the Imam to keep a proper beard,
✔ If he refuses to comply, seek a suitable and righteous replacement,
✔ Make decisions with wisdom and avoid causing any fitnah or discord within the community.
❀ Question:
Our mosque’s Imam trims his beard and it is shorter than a fist-length. Is it permissible to pray behind him? And what is the ruling on appointing such a person as a permanent Imam?✔ Answer:
A mosque Imam should be someone who:✔ Adheres strictly to Shari‘ah,
✔ Lives according to the Qur’an and Sunnah,
✔ Is most knowledgeable in Islamic teachings.
❖ Ruling on the Beard:
Keeping a beard is obligatory upon every Muslim man. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded:"Be different from the polytheists—grow your beards and trim your moustaches."
[Bukhari, Book of Dress, Hadith 5893]
Another narration states:
"Trim the moustaches thoroughly and grow the beards."
The Prophet ﷺ himself had a full, thick beard. He never shaved or trimmed it, nor did he command anyone to do so.
Hence, obeying the Prophet ﷺ is obligatory, and the mosque Imam must maintain a full beard.
One who shaves or trims the beard is regarded as a faasiq (open sinner). Therefore:
➤ Such a person should not be appointed as a permanent Imam.
❖ Prayer Validity:
If he happens to lead the prayer occasionally, the prayer remains valid,→ because it is agreed upon that prayer behind a faasiq is valid, though not ideal.
🕊 Advice:
The mosque management should:✔ Gently advise the Imam to keep a proper beard,
✔ If he refuses to comply, seek a suitable and righteous replacement,
✔ Make decisions with wisdom and avoid causing any fitnah or discord within the community.
