What is the Ruling on Plaiting or Knotting the Beard (Dāṛhī Chaṛhānā)?
Source: Fatāwā Amun Pūrī by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amun Pūrī
The Question
What is the ruling on dāṛhī chaṛhānā (plaiting, knotting, or tying up the beard)?
The Answer
It is not permissible.
- Plaiting or knotting the beard is similar to tying knots in it, which was a pre-Islamic (jāhilī) practice.
- It was done out of pride and arrogance.
- Islam forbade this act, as it constitutes tampering with the natural creation of Allah.
On the other hand, combing and grooming the beard is Sunnah and legislated.
Prophetic Evidence
Sayyidunā Ruwaifiʿ ibn Thābit رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me:
“Whoever knots his beard, or places a ring made of string on the neck of an animal (for protection against the evil eye), or cleans himself with dung or bones — then Muḥammad ﷺ is free from such a person.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 36; Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 5667 — sanad ḥasan)
Conclusion
- Knotting or plaiting the beard (dāṛhī chaṛhānā) is forbidden and counted among jāhilī customs.
- The Sunnah is to keep the beard neat, combed, and well-maintained, without altering its natural form.
