❀ Ruling on Shaving the Beard in Light of the Qur’an and Hadith ❀
Taken from: “Ahkam wa Masail – In Light of Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 01, Page 523
What is the ruling of the scholars of Islam regarding a Muslim youth who keeps a beard and then shaves it off with a razor after three or four years?
According to the Qur’an and Hadith, how grave is the sin, and what does the Shari‘ah of Muhammad ﷺ say in this matter?
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Shaving, trimming, or removing the beard—whether done after having grown it or without ever growing it—is impermissible and sinful in both cases.
This is because such an act opposes and contradicts the direct command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which is:
{أَعْفُوْا اللُّحٰی}
“Let the beards grow.”
In the Qur’an, Allah ﷻ declares:
{وَمَنْ یَّعْصِ اﷲَ وَرَسُوْلَہٗ وَیَتَعَدَّ حُدُوْدَہٗ یُدْخِلْہٗ نَارًا خَالِدًا فِیْہَا وَلَہٗ عَذَابٌ مُّہِیْنٌ}
(Surah an-Nisā’, Verse 14, Juz 4)
“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits — He will admit him to a Fire, to abide therein forever, and for him is a humiliating punishment.”
Therefore, shaving the beard after having grown it is not a minor matter — rather, it falls under the disobedience of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and incurs the warning of a disgraceful punishment.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Taken from: “Ahkam wa Masail – In Light of Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 01, Page 523
❖ Question
What is the ruling of the scholars of Islam regarding a Muslim youth who keeps a beard and then shaves it off with a razor after three or four years?
According to the Qur’an and Hadith, how grave is the sin, and what does the Shari‘ah of Muhammad ﷺ say in this matter?
❖ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Shaving, trimming, or removing the beard—whether done after having grown it or without ever growing it—is impermissible and sinful in both cases.
This is because such an act opposes and contradicts the direct command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which is:
{أَعْفُوْا اللُّحٰی}
“Let the beards grow.”
❖ Qur’anic Warning
In the Qur’an, Allah ﷻ declares:
{وَمَنْ یَّعْصِ اﷲَ وَرَسُوْلَہٗ وَیَتَعَدَّ حُدُوْدَہٗ یُدْخِلْہٗ نَارًا خَالِدًا فِیْہَا وَلَہٗ عَذَابٌ مُّہِیْنٌ}
(Surah an-Nisā’, Verse 14, Juz 4)
“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits — He will admit him to a Fire, to abide therein forever, and for him is a humiliating punishment.”
Therefore, shaving the beard after having grown it is not a minor matter — rather, it falls under the disobedience of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and incurs the warning of a disgraceful punishment.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
