[SIZE=+1]All the great scholars of Islam unanimously agree on this issue that to grow a beard no less than the length of a fist is compulsory upon all Muslim men as it is a distinctive sign of Islam, and it is
haram (forbidden) for a mature stable Muslim to shave his beard.[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1]This verdict was reached on the grounds that there are numerous ahaadith where the
Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam is explicitly commanding the Muslims to grow a beard. In this respect a few ahaadith from Bukhari and Muslim are quoted below.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Translation: Ibn Umar
radiyallahu anhu quotes the Holy Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam as saying,
"Cut short the moustache and lengthen the beard."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1](Bukhari and Muslim)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Translation: Abu Huraira
radiyallahu anhu quotes the Holy Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam as saying,
"Shorten the moustache and lengthen the beard."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1](Muslim)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]
Translation: Ibn Umar
radiyallahu anhu quotes the Holy Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam as saying,
"Grow (lengthen) the beard."[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1](Muslim)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Translation: Yahya ibn Kathir says that, once a person from Ajam (external province) who had grown a moustache and shaved off the beard entered the mosque. The Holy Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam asked him,
"What motivated you to do this act? He replied that his Lord had ordered him to do so. The Holy Prophet
sallallahu alaihe wasallam said,
"Allah has ordered me to shorten my moustache and lengthen my beard." Besides these ahaadith, there are other ahaadith which support the necessity of growing the beard. Therefore, to shave, or trim ones beard less than the length of a fist is
haram (forbidden) and anyone contradicting this ruling will be committing a major sin and regarded as a fasiq (immoral person).[/SIZE]