{"id":19241,"date":"2021-01-19T14:52:02","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T14:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/?p=19241"},"modified":"2021-01-19T14:52:02","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T14:52:02","slug":"is-it-permissible-to-take-off-the-split-ends-of-the-beard-before-it-has-reached-fist-length","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/daruliftabirmingham.co.uk\/home\/is-it-permissible-to-take-off-the-split-ends-of-the-beard-before-it-has-reached-fist-length\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Permissible To Take Off the Split Ends of the Beard, Before It Has Reached Fist Length"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fatwa ID: 04757<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Answered by: Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Question<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Is it permissible to take off the split ends of the beard, before it has reached fist length, with the intention of growing it to at least fist length?<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Answer:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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The beard is from the natural characteristic (Fitra) of men. Our mother Aisha reports that:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, \u201cTen acts are part of natural instinct: trimming the moustache, letting the beard grow, using the tooth stick, sniffing water into the nose, clipping the nails, washing the knuckles, removing hair from the underarms, shaving the pubic hair, and cleaning the private parts with water.\u201dMus\u2019ab(the sub-narrator) said, \u201cI forgot the tenth, except that it might be rinsing the mouth.\u201d (1)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Therefore, the growth of beard is extremely emphasised and considered wajib by our scholars. This is based on numerous narration such as the following hadith narrated by Abdullah Ibn Umar:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDiffer from those who ascribe partners to Allah (Al-Mushrikin): leave beards to grow, and trim moustaches.” (2)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Imam Al-Haskafi explains in his Durr Al-Mukhtar that the Sunnah length of the beard is one fist long (Qabdah). As for shortening it less than that as some of the North African (Maghariba) and effeminate men do then this is something that no one (of our Hanafi scholars) has permitted. (3)<\/span><\/p>\n

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The early books do not contain in them detailed discussion on the beard. The great Hanafi hadith scholar and Jurist, Imam Badr al-Din al-‘Ayni explained the hadith about leaving the beard (I\u2019fa Al-Lihya) by saying:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe amount and definition of the beard that is unlawful to leave uncut have been differed upon by the early Muslims\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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He then cites examples from the companions such as Abu Huraira and Ibn Umar trimming from the beard that which exceeds a fist length. He also states that some others have not specified any limit and then says:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe meaning, in my opinion, is “as long as it does not exceed what is customary among people (Urf an-Nas) .” ‘Ata’ has said, “There is no harm in trimming a little from the length and sides of his beard, if it grows large and long, in order to avoid notoriety, or if one risks being made fun of”(4)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Imam Badr Al-Din Al-Ayni also mentions in his commentary of Al-Hidayah:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt is mentioned in Al-Muhit that there is a difference of opinion with regards to leaving the beard (I\u2019fa). Some of them said: \u201che should leave it until it becomes plentiful and thick, and trimming it is sunnah so he cuts whatever is more than a fists length (Qabda). There is no harm in plucking grey hairs and cutting the edges of the beard if it becomes long\u201d (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

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From this, we can conclude that it is permissible for you to take from the split ends of the beard when it is more than a fist length.\u00a0<\/strong>However, if it is less than a fist, it will be best to refrain from trimming it and try using other alternatives such as oiling and combing to smoothen the growth of the hair.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Only Allah knows best<\/span><\/p>\n

Written by Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh<\/span><\/p>\n

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah<\/span><\/p>\n

Darul Ifta Birmingham<\/span><\/p>\n

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