The Ruling on Keeping the Beard Longer Than a Fist
In the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Qur’an wa Hadith ki Roshni mein Ahkām o Masā’il, Vol. 1, p. 517
❖ Question:
Shaykh al-Albānī (RA) mentioned the issue of qabḍah (fist-length), that the beard should not be longer than one fist, and that exceeding this length is not Sunnah. Please explain?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
You have written:
“Shaykh al-Albānī (RA) mentioned the issue of qabḍah (fist-length), that the beard should not be longer than one fist, and that exceeding this length is not Sunnah.”
What Shaykh al-Albānī (RA) actually said or wrote can only be clarified if his original words are presented. Kindly provide the exact statement from which you derived this.
However, it must be well understood that:
- Growing the beard is obligatory, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded:
{أَعْفُوْا اللُّحٰی}
- In some narrations, the following words are also reported:
{وَفِّرُوْا}
{أَرْخُوْا}
There is no indication in the Qur’an or Sunnah to downgrade this Prophetic command from obligation (wujūb) to mere recommendation (istiḥbāb).
Clearly, the above commands of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are directly against trimming or shaving the beard.
As for the narration of ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (RA) regarding qabḍah (fist-length), it is mawqūf (a companion’s statement). It is known that a mawqūf narration does not establish a Shar‘i ruling unless it carries the ruling of being effectively marfū‘. The qabḍah narration in this case is mawqūf and not considered marfū‘ in ruling.
Conclusion:- Growing the beard is fard (obligatory) by the command of the Prophet ﷺ.
- The “fist-length” (qabḍah) narration is mawqūf, not a binding Shar‘i proof.
- Therefore, keeping the beard longer than a fist remains permissible and does not contradict the Sunnah.
