THE SHAR'EE LENGTH OF THE BEARD

The purpose of this pamphlet is to emphasize the importance of the length of the beard. Many Muslims have queried regarding this point. 1 have also found that people prefer keeping a beard in imitation of what's in vogue rather than that prescribed by Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). A Compilation of this nature has become important because the impact of the western way of life seems to be luring unwary Muslims into such a craze that the importance of the beard itself is being doubted and scoffed at. Since many articles have been printed regarding the importance of the beard itself, this deals with the importance of the length of the beard. To those who feel the issue is trivial to worry about, may ALLAH guide him. BUT to those who genuinely wish to learn and practice what is right-here is sufficient proofs from the Quran, Ahadith and learned scholars.

"For Muslim males to grow a beard is wajib (compulsory), and to let it grow a fist length is wajib, without any Shari reason to cut or shave is haraarn (totally prohibited), he who does so is a faasiq (sinner), to shorten it less than a fist length is makhruh tahrimi (near haraam), to repeatedly (shorten) it is sinning and upon these laws there is IJMA, (consensus of opinion)" - Dari Aur Am- biyya Ki Sunnate-Mufti Saeed Palanpuri.

CONCERNING ADHERENCE TO THE SUNNAT ALLAH SAYS:

	"O you who believe, obey ALLAH and the RASUL and those in authority from among you" (4;59);
	"O you who believe, respond to ALLAH and his RASUL when he calls you to that which gives you LIFE" (8;24);
	"O you who believe, obey ALLAH and his RASUL and TURN NOT AWAY (from) when you hear (him speak)" (8;20);
	"Whoever obeys the RASUL, he indeed obeys ALLAH" (4;80);
	"And whatever the RASUL GIVES you, ACCEPT IT and whatever he FORBIDS you, ABSTAIN (from it)" (59;7);
	"Certainly you have in the RASUL of ALLAH a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for him who hopes in ALLAH and in the last day and remembers ALLAH much" (33;2l);
	"Nor does he say of his own desires, it is nought but revelation that is revealed" (53;3/4).

Importance of the Beard in Rasulullah (s.a.w) words:

	Rasululah (S.A.W) says "Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard flow (grow)". Reported by Ibn Umar (R.A) in Muslim, hadith no 498.
	Rasululah (S.A.W) ordered us to trim the moustache closely and spare the beard" says Ibn Umar in Muslim hadith no. 449.
	Rasululah (S.A.W) said 'Act against (contrary) to the polytheists, trim closely the moustache and grow the beard Reported by Ibn Umar (R.A) in Muslim hadith no. 500.
	Rasululah (.S.A.W) "Trim closely the moustache and grow the beard". Reported by Abu-Hurairah (RA) in Muslim hadith no. 501.
	Rasululah (S.A.W) said 'I have no connection with one who shaves, shouts and tears his clothing e.g. in grief or affication". Reported by Abu Darda (RA) in Bukhari and Muslim. Rasululah (S.A.W) said "Any one who shaves has no claim to the mercy of ALLAH' Reported by Ibn Abbas (R.A) in Tibrabi.
	Hazart Abdullah Ibn Umar (R.A) used to cut that portion (which exceeds the grip of the hand) of beard. (Tirmizi).
	The teaching of Hazart Ammar Bin Yaasir, Abdullah Ibn Umar, Sayyindina Umar, Abu Hurairah and Jaabir (R.A), indicates that ALL used to keep beard that was one fist in length or more. Hazart Jaabir (R.A) had said; "We used to grow long beards and only during Hajj and Umrah did we trim them to required length".
	Hazart Abdullah Ibn Urnar (R.A) relates that; "He who imitates the kuffar (non-believers) and dies in that state he will be raised up with them on the Day of Qiyarnat (Judgement)." It is reported in the Tabrani Vol 3 Page 90/91 that Kaiser, the King of Persia, after having read the letter sent by the RASUL (S.A.W) of ALLAH inviting him to accept the faith of Islaam, ordered his sub-ordinate Bayon (Badhun), the governor of Yemen, to send two persons to bring the RASUL of Islaam before him. Bayan accordingly sent two messengers who according to the fashion of those days were clean shaven and having long moustaches. When they appeared on the scene toward the RASUL (S.A.W) of ALLAH, he very much disliked the unnatural appearances of those persons and said; "Woe to you, Woe to you. Who ordered you to adopt such appearances? They said; "Our lord Kaiser". The RASUL (S.A.W) of ALLAH then told them "My Rabb COMMANDED me to lenghten my beard and clip my moustaches".

The Beard According To The Great Imams of Jurisprudence

HANAFIES
The Hanifies say "To shorten the beard less than a FIST LENGTH is HARAAM and on this is IJMA`A (consensus of opinion)".

Imam Muharnmed (RA) writes in his book "Kitabul Aathaar" where he relates from Imam Abu Hanifa (ra) who relates from Hazart Haytham (ra) who relates from Ibn Umar (ra) that he (Ibn Umar) used to hold his beard in his hand and cut off which was longer. Imam Muham- med (ra) says that this is what we follow and this was the decision of Imam Abu Hanifa (ra).

SHAFIES
Imam Shafi (ra) in his Kitabul Umm states, "To shave the beard is HARAAM". (Shari Minfiaj dar Shara Fasl Aqueeqa).

MALIKIES
Sheikh Ahmad Nafarawi Maliki in the commentary of Imam Abu Zayed's booklet states, "to shave the beard is without doubt haraam according to all Imarns", it is also mentioned in 'Tamheed' which is a commentary of "Muatta" (Sunnan Imam Malik (RA)) that to shave the beard is HARAAM and among males the only ones to resort to this (practice) are the HERMAPHRODITES.

HANBALIES
The Hanbalies in their famous Al-KhanWa Hambli Fatawa Kitab state that "to grow the beard is essential and to shave it is HARAAW. Also in the Hambali Mathab books "Sharahul Muntaha' and "Shari Manzoomatul Aadaab", it is stated "The most accepted view is that it is HARAAM (prohibited to shave the beard)".

The Beard According to the Scholars of Islam

	Dure-Makhtar states "Beard length is ONE FIST".
	Commentator of Mishkãt Hadhrath Muhaddith Abdul Haq Dehlevi (RA) says; "to keep the beard ONE FIST length is WAA.1113 (compulsory).
	Ibn Jazm Zahari writes, "To clip the moustache and to let the beard flow (grow) is FARZ (obligatory) - Al Mahly Vol 2 Page 320. quotes the above hadith (no. 500) as support.
	The commentator of Mishkãt, Shaykh Abdul Haq Muhaddith of Delhi says; "It is incumbent (wajib) to wear (a beard) to a fist's length and it is called approved (masnun) because it s a religious custom, it is sunnat, that is, the practise of all Prophets and is proven from the Rasul of Allah (S.A.W)'s practise" (Ashiat ul Larnaat Vol. 1 page 288).
	"To shave off the beard is unlawful (haraam) and one who shaves his beard is legally speaking an unrighteous fellow (fasiq); hence, it is NOT PERMISSIBLE to appoint such a man as an Imam. To say Taraweeh behind such a Imarn is MAKRUH-E-TAHRIMI (near prohibition)". (Shami-Vol 1. page 523).
	The Durre-Mukhtar states; "No one has called it permissible to trim it (the beard) less than FIST-LENGTH as is being done by some westernised Muslims and hermaphrodites" (Vol. 2 Page 155).
	The Durre-Mukhtar states; "It is forbidden (haraam) for a man to cut off another's beard" (Vol. 5. page 359).
	"To shave off the beard and to trim it more than the legal length is impermissible and forbidden (haraam). One who does so is a fasiq and his evidence is rejectable, his Imamate is near prohibited" (Fatawa Rahimiyah, Vol. 2, page 195).
	"The beard in its time (ie. when it begins to grow) is the cause of handsomeness and adornment, which is completely lost on shaving it' (Hedaya Vol. 4, page 571).
	"To wear the beard upto one fist in length is prescribed but much more than that is contrary to the practise of the Rasul of Allah (S.A.W)" (AI-Ikhtiyar, Vol 4, page 167).
	Moulana Husain Ahmad Madani (RA) in his book, "The Philosophy of the Beard", writes: "Rasulluah (S.A.W) has COMMANDED the Sahaba (RA) and the Ummah to lengthen their beards and make this a symbol and uniform of a believer. It is therefore not permissible to shave, nor to shorten nor to keep a small (goatee) beard".
	Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (RA), an authority on Islam writes, "It is an unanimous verdict for the Ummah that to shorten the beard less than a grip of the hand is forbidden".
	Moulana Thanaullah (RA) of Panipat says, "To clip the beard more than a FIST'S LENGTH is unlawful (haraam). (Mala buda Minho, page 130).

CONCLUSION
Thus a Muslim who shaves or shortens his beard is like a hermophrodite, his Imamate is near prohibition, his evidence is not valid, he will not have the right to vote or being voted for. Shaving and shortening the beard is the action of the non-believers. Imam Ghazzali (RA) says, "know that the key to total bliss (saadah) lies in following the Sunnah and in emulating the life of Rasulullah (S.A.W) in ALL that issues from him, and in ALL his doings even if it concerns the manner of his eating, rising, sleeping, and speaking. I do say this in relation to rituals in worship ONLY because there is no way neglecting the Sunnah reported of him in such matters - but what I say INCLUDES EVERY ASPECT of his daily life". (Kitab al Arbain Addin, Cairo 1344, page 89). Allah Taala told Nabi (S.A.W) to say, "Say IF you love Allah, follow me, Allah will love you" (3-31).

The daily recitation of a band of angels of ALLAH is "HOLY is the Being who adorned men with beard and women with pigtails and braids" (Takmela e Bahr al Raiq Xol 3 page 33)

ALLAH TAALA says ---And when true believers are called to ALLAH and His RASUL (S.A.W) (to accept and practice the law and commands of ALLAH and His RASUL) (S.A.W) that he may pass judgement upon them, their ONLY reply is "We hear and obey" Such men shall surely prosper' (24/51).

THE CALL IS TO GROW A FIST LENGTH BEARD, LET US HEAR AND OBEY TO PROSPER.

'The Shari Length of the Beard' by Mufti Afzal Elias, P.O. Box 5689, Benoni South 1502

Islamic Information

 

Source:  Jamiatul Ulama (Kwazulu-Natal)