Source: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani – Ahkām wa Masā’il: Kitāb-o-Sunnat kī Roshnī meṅ
Is trimming or shaping the beard allowed in Islam?
Is there any authentic ḥadīth that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to trim his beard?
Some individuals attempt to justify trimming the beard based on a narration found in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, which states:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to trim his beard from the sides and length.”
(Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb: Mā Jāʾa fī al-Akhdh min al-Liḥyah – Hadith: 2762)
However, this narration is extremely weak—rather, it is fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
It cannot be used as evidence to permit trimming or shaving the beard.
The narration is transmitted through ʿAmr ibn Hārūn, about whom the leading scholars of ḥadīth said:
Imām al-Tirmidhī, after quoting this narration, cited the words of Imām al-Bukhārī:
❝This narration from ʿAmr ibn Hārūn has no basis whatsoever.❞
(Tirmidhī, also quoted in Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb)
Shaykh al-Albānī also declared it fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
Despite this, some people use this baseless narration as a pretext to mutilate their beards, trimming parts from the upper area and others from the bottom, leaving only a thin line of hair on the face.
This is a mockery of the Sharīʿah, imitation of Shayṭān, and rebellion against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is deeply regretful that even highly educated people, those who consider themselves scholars or intellectuals, ridicule this mutawātir sunnah and reject it as part of the Prophetic tradition.
For a true Muslim, the command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—based on revelation—is sufficient.
Authentic aḥādīth clearly show that:
❖ The beard is to be left alone
❖ It is not to be trimmed or shaped
(And Allah knows best with true knowledge.)
❖ Question:
Is trimming or shaping the beard allowed in Islam?
Is there any authentic ḥadīth that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to trim his beard?
❖ Answer:
Some individuals attempt to justify trimming the beard based on a narration found in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, which states:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to trim his beard from the sides and length.”
(Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb: Mā Jāʾa fī al-Akhdh min al-Liḥyah – Hadith: 2762)
However, this narration is extremely weak—rather, it is fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
It cannot be used as evidence to permit trimming or shaving the beard.
◈ The Defect in the Chain:
The narration is transmitted through ʿAmr ibn Hārūn, about whom the leading scholars of ḥadīth said:
- Imām ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī, Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, and Imām al-Nasā’ī said:
❝He is matrūk (abandoned in ḥadīth).❞ - Imām Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn said:
❝He is a kadhdhāb (liar), khabīth (wicked).❞ - Imām Ṣāliḥ Jazarah also stated:
❝He is a liar.❞ - Imām ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī and Imām al-Dāraquṭnī said:
❝He is extremely weak (shadīd al-ḍaʿf).❞ - Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥāfiẓ said:
❝He is matrūk al-ḥadīth (his ḥadīth are rejected).❞ - Imām al-Sājī said:
❝He is weak (ḍaʿīf).❞ - Imām Abū Nuʿaym stated:
❝He narrates what he hears and fabricates.❞ - Imām al-ʿUqaylī said:
❝He is weak (ḍaʿīf).❞
(Refer: Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb, Vol. 4, pp. 316–317)
Imām al-Tirmidhī, after quoting this narration, cited the words of Imām al-Bukhārī:
❝This narration from ʿAmr ibn Hārūn has no basis whatsoever.❞
(Tirmidhī, also quoted in Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb)
Shaykh al-Albānī also declared it fabricated (mawḍūʿ).
Despite this, some people use this baseless narration as a pretext to mutilate their beards, trimming parts from the upper area and others from the bottom, leaving only a thin line of hair on the face.
This is a mockery of the Sharīʿah, imitation of Shayṭān, and rebellion against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
❖ A Serious Warning:
It is deeply regretful that even highly educated people, those who consider themselves scholars or intellectuals, ridicule this mutawātir sunnah and reject it as part of the Prophetic tradition.
For a true Muslim, the command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—based on revelation—is sufficient.
Authentic aḥādīth clearly show that:
❖ The beard is to be left alone
❖ It is not to be trimmed or shaped
Conclusion:
- The narration suggesting the Prophet ﷺ trimmed his beard is fabricated and has no credibility.
- Shaving or trimming the beard based on this narration is invalid and misguided.
- The authentic Sunnah is to leave the beard untouched.
- Mocking the Sunnah and imitating Shayṭān is a sign of rebellion, not intelligence.
(And Allah knows best with true knowledge.)
