❀ The Shar‘i Ruling on the Beard: Clarification on Trimming and Shaving ❀
Taken from: “Ahkam wa Masail – In Light of Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 01, Page 522
Please explain the Shar‘i ruling regarding the beard, as some individuals keep a beard but trim it or shave it from the top or bottom using a razor. Kindly clarify the status of this practice in light of the Sunnah.
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Keeping and growing the beard is obligatory (farḍ), because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave a clear command (amr) in this regard.
There is no evidence to support the idea that this command should be understood as referring to a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized Sunnah) or merely a recommended (mustaḥabb) act.
Hence, the notion that:
“Keeping and growing the beard is Sunnah, and if someone keeps it, he will be rewarded, but if he does not, there is no sin”
—is completely incorrect.
This also clarifies that the following actions are impermissible:
✘ Trimming the beard
✘ Shaving the beard
✘ Styling the beard into lines or shapes
✘ Using a razor or scissors to completely remove hair from the top, bottom, or front of the beard
All of these practices are in direct violation of the explicit command of the Prophet ﷺ regarding letting the beard grow.
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 522
❖ Question
Please explain the Shar‘i ruling regarding the beard, as some individuals keep a beard but trim it or shave it from the top or bottom using a razor. Kindly clarify the status of this practice in light of the Sunnah.
❖ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Keeping and growing the beard is obligatory (farḍ), because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave a clear command (amr) in this regard.
There is no evidence to support the idea that this command should be understood as referring to a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized Sunnah) or merely a recommended (mustaḥabb) act.
Hence, the notion that:
“Keeping and growing the beard is Sunnah, and if someone keeps it, he will be rewarded, but if he does not, there is no sin”
—is completely incorrect.
This also clarifies that the following actions are impermissible:
✘ Trimming the beard
✘ Shaving the beard
✘ Styling the beard into lines or shapes
✘ Using a razor or scissors to completely remove hair from the top, bottom, or front of the beard
All of these practices are in direct violation of the explicit command of the Prophet ﷺ regarding letting the beard grow.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
