Growing a beard in Islam

[Argamemnon]

Is growing a beard part of sunnah? I know a Turkish scholar for example who says it isn't. He says growing a beard is not binding, that it wasn't something our prophet (PBUH) wanted us to follow. He also says that there are other things our prophet (PBUH) did, which are not part of sunnah.

 

[MuhamedAbdullah]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, reported the Prophet (peace be on him) as saying, "Be different from the polytheists (mushrikeen): let the beard grow and trim the moustache."[/FONT]

It is not obligatory to grow a beard as we all know that there are some people who throughout their lives cannot grow facial hair even if they wanted to. The four schools of thoughts however are in agreement that it is forbidden to shave the beard, so if you can grow facial hair then you must.

The difference between this and some other parts of the Sunnah is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave a direct instruction on what to do and Allah says to obey the Messenger.

Here is a fatwa on the issue:

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. What is Islam’s view on growing a beard? Jazakum Allah khayran.​

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, we commend your keenness on getting your self well-acquainted with Islam and its teachings, which is the way Allah has chosen for the welfare of His servants.

As for your question, we’d like to state that growing beard is a great Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, Muslims differed regarding its ruling some of them state that it is mandatory and shaving it is forbidden while others view that it is an optional Sunnah and hence there is no harm in shaving it. What to be stressed here is that beard in Islam does not have the same religious significance as that of the other prescribed rituals. Thus it is important for us to recognize that we are not allowed to ostracize men who do not have beards nor are we to question their basic faith.

Elaborating on this we’d like to cite for you the following Fatwa on the ruling of growing beard issued by Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who states:

"Growing a beard is considered a great Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also one of the great legacies inherited from all of the previous prophets and messengers of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us: “Grow your beards and trim or clip the moustaches.” In light of such precedents, most of the past scholars and Imams go as far as declaring that growing a beard is obligatory on males.

What we stated above makes it clear that no Muslim should take the issue of the beard lightly. At the same time, we must also state categorically that one should not conclude from what has been said earlier that growing a beard in Islam has the same religious significance as that of the other prescribed rituals. This is definitely not the case. Thus it is important for us to recognize that we are not allowed to ostracize men who do not have beards nor are we to question their basic faith.


Since beard is undoubtedly a great Sunnah, every Muslim male should try to practice this Sunnah according to the best of his ability. Allah does not take us to task for what is beyond our power or ability. We are told to fear Allah as best as we can."

I am unable to post the link to this as I have not made 15 posts.

 

[Argamemnon]

I can't imagine that that particular Turkish scholar is lying. He is a famous professor and surely must be more knowledgeable than all of us combined. It is so confusing.

 

[MuhamedAbdullah]

I can't imagine that that particular Turkish scholar is lying. He is a famous professor and surely must be more knowledgeable than all of us combined. It is so confusing.

Even those with the greatest knowledge are sometimes wrong. The is agreement by most scholars on this particular issue. I don't find it confusing at all.

 

[AbuQuteiba]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, reported the Prophet (peace be on him) as saying, "Be different from the polytheists (mushrikeen): let the beard grow and trim the moustache."[/FONT]

It is not obligatory to grow a beard as we all know that there are some people who throughout their lives cannot grow facial hair even if they wanted to. The four schools of thoughts however are in agreement that it is forbidden to shave the beard, so if you can grow facial hair then you must.

The difference between this and some other parts of the Sunnah is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave a direct instruction on what to do and Allah says to obey the Messenger.

As-Salaamu 'alaikum. Jazaak Allaahu khairan for the answer, akhi, but i think you've contradicted yourself. There is no difference between saying that it's obligatory to grow a beard and it's forbidden to shave your beard. They are one and the same. The fact that some people have no facial hair is irrelevant. Of course, the question could be more specific and it might be a asked whether it's forbidden to shave off some of the beard, in which case your answer would come into play. Wallaahu a'lam.

It seems that your view is that it's obligatory, whilst the fatwaa you've posted only shows it to be a Sunnah. Your thoughts?

 

[AbuQuteiba]

I can't imagine that that particular Turkish scholar is lying. He is a famous professor and surely must be more knowledgeable than all of us combined. It is so confusing.

As-Salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah.

It's good of you to be giving this professor the benefit of the doubt, akh, baarak Allaahu feek. But the fact of the matter is, in Islaam only proof is what counts. No matter who you are, or what position you might have. There is no need to be confused, akhi. The professor you mentioned is indeed correct when saying that the Prophet sallaa Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam engaged in some acts that were a part of tradition (that he did not mean for us to follow). These acts are usually never accompanied by a qowl (saying) of the Prophet. But whenever a certain act is accompanied by a saying of the Prophet that clarifies whether it is worship, or tradition, then there is no longer any confusion, insha'Allaah. For instance, the beard. We know that the Prophet Sallaa Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam grew his beard. The question is, did he do this out of tradition, or as an act of worship? It would be somewhat confusing, had the Prophet not directed us to the answer with his saying, sallaa Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. And he undoubtedly did, as the brother posted the Hadeeth from Sahih Al-Bukhaari.

Wallaahu a'lam.

 

[Breathe]

Can any Muslim who believes so, explain to me why God would care if I don't keep a beard?
And, is the hadith authentic, or weak, may I ask?

 

[Argamemnon]

As-Salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah.

It's good of you to be giving this professor the benefit of the doubt, akh, baarak Allaahu feek. But the fact of the matter is, in Islaam only proof is what counts. No matter who you are, or what position you might have. There is no need to be confused, akhi. The professor you mentioned is indeed correct when saying that the Prophet sallaa Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam engaged in some acts that were a part of tradition (that he did not mean for us to follow). These acts are usually never accompanied by a qowl (saying) of the Prophet. But whenever a certain act is accompanied by a saying of the Prophet that clarifies whether it is worship, or tradition, then there is no longer any confusion, insha'Allaah. For instance, the beard. We know that the Prophet Sallaa Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam grew his beard. The question is, did he do this out of tradition, or as an act of worship? It would be somewhat confusing, had the Prophet not directed us to the answer with his saying, sallaa Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. And he undoubtedly did, as the brother posted the Hadeeth from Sahih Al-Bukhaari.

Wallaahu a'lam.

Wa'alaikum salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Thank you for your answer. Still, in the end it's not a sin to shave off your beard. It's not a key aspect in Islam to worry about, there are far more important things to do to be a good Muslim than growing a beard.

 

[MuhamedAbdullah]

As-Salaamu 'alaikum. Jazaak Allaahu khairan for the answer, akhi, but i think you've contradicted yourself. There is no difference between saying that it's obligatory to grow a beard and it's forbidden to shave your beard. They are one and the same.

I think there is a difference as just saying that it is obligatory to grow a beard would allow people to claim that some are not living up to their obligations despite the fact that there may be something in their genes to prevent them to do so. If however we say the obligation is not to shave then I feel it is the more better approach because these people could then be said to be keeping this obligation.

I only heard the above explanation myself a few weeks ago, in a video on the subject by Yusef Estes.

It seems that your view is that it's obligatory, whilst the fatwaa you've posted only shows it to be a Sunnah. Your thoughts?

My thoughts are that it is haram to shave the beard and being a recent revert to Islam this is something I looked into in detail. Originally I believed it was merely Sunnah. However some of the Sunnah is also obligatory. For example how we pray comes from the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) yet no one would argue that this is not compulsory.

I have some good youtube videos in which this issue is explained much better than I can and I will post them up when I have enough posts.

 

[MuhamedAbdullah]

Can any Muslim who believes so, explain to me why God would care if I don't keep a beard?
And, is the hadith authentic, or weak, may I ask?

The Hadith is the strongest kind you can have I believe. Sometimes we need to just do what Allah and the Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam) instruct us to do, even if we don't understand why.

However in this case the Prophet ( Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam) has given reasons why we must let the beard grow as shown by the Hadith. That is to distinguish us from the polytheists. He also said anyone who imitates a people is one of them.

Wa'alaikum salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Thank you for your answer. Still, in the end it's not a sin to shave off your beard. It's not a key aspect in Islam to worry about, there are far more important things to do to be a good Muslim than growing a beard.

While it is true that there a far more important things to do, Islam is a complete system and we should try to implement it in its entirity to the best of our ability. Concentrating on other aspects is no excuse to for us to ignore other aspects. Allah did not burden us with anything more than we can handle.

It is a sin to shave the beard as you are directly disobeying an instruction of the Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam).

 

[Argamemnon]

It is a sin to shave the beard as you are directly disobeying an instruction of the Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam).

It is not a sin according to this Turkish site: Sadakat.Net "Dinine sadýk nesiller için"

Unfortunately it's in Turkish. It says there are two categories of sunnah;

-Sünnet-i hüdâ

-Sünnet-i zaide

Growing a beard falls into the second category, which is less binding and thus is not haram when it isn't followed.

 

[Argamemnon]

The Arabic terms for the above types of sunnah are;

-Sunnah ghayr mu'akkada or Sunnah al-ada (Sunnah of Habit)

-Sunnah mu'akkada (Emphasized Sunnah) or sunnah al-huda (Sunnah of Guidance)

 

[TashaN]

This subject must be the last thing you worry about guys. This is just a tiny little issue. It's like a drop of water in the mildest of an ocean. Ocean represents Islam and the drop of water is this issue at hand.

For me, i don't shave it 100%, but i just used to trim it. I always keep something, just in case.

 

[Breathe]

For me, i don't shave it 100%, but i just used to trim it. I always keep something, just in case.

Think a goattee would be okay?
By the way, I'm sorry! I thought you were a girl! LOL. I tend to look at one's avatar as opposed to the 'gender' (which is alllllll the way right)! My apologies!!

 

[usuf_m]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) "reported that the ruler of Yemen, appointed by the Persian emperor Kisra, sent two envoys to the Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)!. When they came into his presence, he noticed that they had shaved their beards and let their moustaches grow big. Hating their ugly appearance, he turned his face away and said, “Woe be to you, who told you to do so?” They replied: “Our lord (Kisra) did!”
The Messenger of Allah! responded: “But my Lord, exalted and glorified be He, has commanded me to spare my beard and trim my moustaches.” [Recorded by Ibn Jarir at-Tabari, Ibn Sa’d, and Ibn Bishran. Verified to be hasan (good) by al-Albani (Fiqh us-Sirah by al-Ghazali p. 359)]

There is a detailed discussion on the subject by Dr. Muhammad Al Jibaly in an essay called
"The beard between the Salaf and the Khalaf" its available at islamhouse. com just paste the text in quotes in their search engine inshAllah you would find it - the very first result.

Jazaakumullah khair

Walaikum Assalaam Warehmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

 

[yousaf]

Wa'alaikum salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Thank you for your answer. Still, in the end it's not a sin to shave off your beard. It's not a key aspect in Islam to worry about, there are far more important things to do to be a good Muslim than growing a beard.

there are people who you will meet , talk to , no matter how much you explain they don't want to believe.

it is waajib and some scholars says it fardh to grow a beard:

allah (swt) says He who obeys the Apostle, obeys God(ch. 4 v.80)

''indeed for you there is a perfect example in the messenger of allah''

''So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah. for Allah is strict in Punishment. '' ch.59 v.7

if any one disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.(ch.33 v. 36)

the prophet(saw) has stated ''the best of all words is the book of allah ad the best of all ways is the way of muhhamad(saw) (muslim)

the prophet kept the length of his beard equal on all sides (tirmidhi)

allah(swt) has cursed those men who resemble women and those women who resemble men( al bukhari)

do opposite of what the mushrikeen do , grow the beards and cut the moustaches short( bukhari and muslim)

 

[TashaN]

Think a goattee would be okay?
By the way, I'm sorry! I thought you were a girl! LOL. I tend to look at one's avatar as opposed to the 'gender' (which is alllllll the way right)! My apologies!!

No worries my friend. The same happened to me before with some other members who put an avatar for a female.

What do you mean by saying "thin gotta be ok?" ok in term of what?

 

[Breathe]

No worries my friend. The same happened to me before with some other members who put an avatar for a female.

What do you mean by saying "thin gotta be ok?" ok in term of what?

*grins* It's understandable though!

As to your question, I mean, a goatee, like this:

Or even this:
Image:Tiered-goatee.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

(neither are me )
Are these acceptable, in that case?

 

[TashaN]

Well, i'm not a scholar. Believe me, this is a very minor issue in Islam and each scholar will give you a slightly different answer, because there is no a 100% right or wrong answer in this issue, but the most acceptable view is that you have to leave something. They all agree that shaving all of it is not encouraged.

Regarding the picture in the link you gave me ...

Image:Tiered-goatee.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Me and my friends thought it was cool and insha'Allah "God willing", acceptable.

By the way, mine is much lesser than that. It's almost like this ...

http://pablochester.typepad.com/pablochestercom/images/fox.jpg (but much more cleaner and nicer)

And sometimes like this ...

http://grainbelt.smugmug.com/photos/135076534-S.jpg

Of course neither of it is mine, just picked it up from google.

 

[MuhamedAbdullah]

Ruling on trimming the beard because it looks scary​

I have a question about the beard. I know that the beard should be left alone and not trimmed. But there are some people who let their beards grow and they look scary. Our imam told us that this is not sunnah: to let the beard grow so long that the faces look scary. Some men only have gotee, hair on their on their upper lip and and chine and they are alims and imams. Can you please help me on this suject

[FONT=&quot]

Praise be to Allaah.​

The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) indicates that it is obligatory to let the beard grow and that it is haraam to shave it or cut it. It was narrated in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Cut the moustache and let the beard grow; be different from the mushrikeen.” (al-Bukhaari, al-Libaas, 5442; Muslim, al-Tahaarah, 382)
There are many ahaadeeth which say the same as this hadeeth, indicating that it is obligatory to leave the beard alone and let it grow and that it is haraam to shave it or cut it. Whoever claims that letting the beard grow is no more than a Sunnah for which a person may be rewarded and the one who does not do it will not be punished is going against the saheeh ahaadeeth. The report that says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to trim the length and breadth of his beard is a false hadeeth. But it should be noted that Islam is the religion of beauty, as it was narrated in the hadeeth, “[A man said,] ‘What if a man likes his clothes and his shoes to look good?’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘Allaah is Beautiful and loves beauty.’” (Narrated by Muslim, al-Eemaan, 131). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded [one of his companions] to change grey hair, when he said, “Change this grey hair, but avoid black.” (Narrated by Muslim, Kitaab al-Libaas wa’l-Zeenah, 2102). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recommended combing hair, and said, “Whoever has hair, let him take care of it.” (Abu Dawood, Kitaab al-Tarajjul, 3632. Al-Albaani said in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood: it is hasan saheeh. Hadeeth no. 3509). Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said: “Ibn Battaal said: combing means tidying the hair of the head and beard, and oiling it.” This is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever turns away from my Sunnah has nothing to do with me.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Nikaah, 4675)

It should be noted that the beauty referred to is shar’i or Islamic beauty (beauty as prescribed in Islam), and not the so-called beauty which appeals to sick minds which are enamoured of kaafir fashions and the appearance of corrupt people such as male and female actors and singers, or fashion models. Hence when some people were misled by those immoral western women who pluck or shave or draw their eyebrows, or make their nails long (like wild beasts), or have tattoos, and thought that this is beauty, many Muslim women imitated them in these things, even though they are forbidden by sharee’ah. The point is not what is fashionable in the east or the west, the point is the sharee’ah which advocates wearing perfume (for men), keeping clean, dressing nicely, combing the hair, changing grey hair, and other kinds of beautification which are prescribed in Islam. And Allaah is the Source of strength.
​

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Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

On the issues of the gottee, this is something which is stylish amongst the disbelievers and to have one would be to imitate them in my opinion.