❀ Ruling on Praying Behind an Imam with a Beard Shorter Than a Fist ❀
Taken from: “Ahkam wa Masail – In Light of Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 01, Page 521
What do the scholars of religion and the esteemed jurists of Sharī‘ah say regarding the issue of an Imam whose beard is shorter than a fist-length, i.e., less than the supposed Shar‘i limit—
Is it permissible to pray behind such an Imam or not, whether the prayer is obligatory or supererogatory?
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
In this question, a “fist-length” beard has been assumed as the Shar‘i standard, whereas the Sharī‘ah has not established any such specific measurement for the beard.
The only directive found in the Sharī‘ah is:
{اَعْفُوا اللِّحٰی}
“Let the beards grow.”
As for appointing someone who trims or shaves the beard as the Imam for leading prayer, I am not aware of any verse from the Qur’an or any Hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at present that explicitly addresses whether or not such a person can lead the prayer.
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 521
❖ Question
What do the scholars of religion and the esteemed jurists of Sharī‘ah say regarding the issue of an Imam whose beard is shorter than a fist-length, i.e., less than the supposed Shar‘i limit—
Is it permissible to pray behind such an Imam or not, whether the prayer is obligatory or supererogatory?
❖ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
In this question, a “fist-length” beard has been assumed as the Shar‘i standard, whereas the Sharī‘ah has not established any such specific measurement for the beard.
The only directive found in the Sharī‘ah is:
{اَعْفُوا اللِّحٰی}
“Let the beards grow.”
As for appointing someone who trims or shaves the beard as the Imam for leading prayer, I am not aware of any verse from the Qur’an or any Hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at present that explicitly addresses whether or not such a person can lead the prayer.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
