The Ruling on Trimming the Beard and the Status of the Companions’ Actions
In the Light of Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Qur’an wa Hadith ki Roshni mein Ahkām o Masā’il, Vol. 1, p. 518
❖ Questions:
① Is a person sinful if he trims his beard to less or more than a fist?
② Ḥaḍrat ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (RA) used to trim his beard beyond a fist’s length — what is the explanation of this?
③ Is the statement or action of a Companion (Ṣaḥābī) a binding proof in Sharī‘ah?
④ Is growing the beard obligatory?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
① The ruling on trimming more or less than a fist:
Trimming the beard to less or more than a fist is a sin.
② The practice of ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (RA):
The ruling on his action is the same as mentioned in point ① above.
③ The status of a Companion’s statement or action:
- If a Companion’s statement or action is not marfū‘ (attributed to the Prophet ﷺ) in reality or ruling, then it is not a binding proof in religion.
- This ruling is based on the Qur’anic command:
﴿فَرُدُّوْہُ إِلَی اﷲِ وَالرَّسُوْلِ﴾ [al-Nisā’: 59]
“So refer it back to Allah and the Messenger.”
④ The obligation of growing the beard:
- Yes, growing the beard is fard (obligatory).
- Its evidence is the command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to let the beard grow.
- There is no indication to reduce this command from its real status of obligation to mere recommendation.
- The narration “يَأْخُذُ مِنْ طُوْلِهَا وَعَرْضِهَا” is weak and baseless.
The Status of the Companions (Ṣaḥābah):
- It must be understood that the Companions were not infallible (ma‘ṣūm), as sins were committed by some of them.
- Some were stoned,
- some had their hands cut,
- some were punished with lashes.
- However, their status is such that Allah forgave their sins:
﴿وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنْکُمْ﴾
- And Allah granted them His pleasure:
﴿رَضِیَ اﷲُ عَنْہُمْ وَرَضُوْا عَنْہُ وَأَعَدَّ لَہُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِیْ تَحْتَہَا الْأَنْہَارُ خَالِدِیْنَ فِیْہَا أَبَدًا﴾
[Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. And He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever.]
Conclusion:- Growing the beard is obligatory.
- Trimming it shorter or even beyond a fist is a sin.
- A Companion’s individual action is not an independent proof unless it is marfū‘ in reality or ruling.
- The Companions, despite not being infallible, hold a status of forgiveness and divine pleasure granted by Allah.
