In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

All the religious scholars agree that all the Prophets kept beards.  Imam Suyuti explains, the human nature is based on keeping a beard; and does not need a special order from Allah (SWA) and Rasullah Sallallahu Alahis Salam.  Thus the beard is part of human nature to which all humans should adhere. (Tanwirul Hawaaliq Fi Sharhi Muwatta Imam Malik p.219 v.2)

Furthermore, the beard is considered as something part of nature. In a hadith the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahis Salam has mentioned ten points of nature.  Out of these ten, the lengthening of the beard was one. (Sunan Tirmizi p.104 v.2)

I would like to split the article into seven parts.  In part one, we will be looking at whether there are any ahadeeths regarding keeping the beard.

In part two, what to do the great Imams say about the beard.

In part three, the description of the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalams beard.

In part four, is it a sin not to keep a beard.

Part One

In a hadeeth narrated by Saaiduna Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu, that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said ‘Oppose the mushrikeens (idol worshippers), lengthen your beards and cut your moustache’. (Sahih Bukhari p.875 v.2)

From this hadeeth it is clearly evident that keeping the beard is a sign of being a Muslim and not trimming the moustache is a sign of an idol worshipper. (Wujub i’fa il–Lihyah p.26)

Part Two

The shaving of the beard is haram according to all four Imams.  Imam Shafi (RA) in Kitabul-Umm has said it is haram to shave the beard.  Imam Malik has said that to shave the beard is haram and to trim it in such a manner that it changes ones natural facial features is haram.  Imam Ahmad in Sharul-Mugni has said it is haraam.  Finally, Imam Haskafi (RA) in Durr Muhktar has said,  “Shaving the beard is haram upon the man”. (Wujub I’fa Lihyah p.16)

Part Three

In a hadith it is stated that the Prophet Of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam beard was dense and would cover his chest. (Musnad Ahmad p.179 v.2) In another hadith, the Sahaba Radiallahu Anhum realised, by the movement of Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam’s beard, that the Prophet Sallallalhu Alahi Wasalam would recite from the Holy Quran in Zuhr and Asr, clearly indicating that the beard was lengthy. (Sunan Abi Dawud p.123 v.1)

From these two Ahadeeths, it is clear for everyone that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam had a lengthy beard.

Part Four

As I mentioned before the hadith “Oppose the Mushrikeen, lengthen your beard and cut your moustache”. From this hadeeh the scholars have derived that keeping a beard is Wajib (incumbent)

In Nurul-Anwar written by Mullah Jeewan (p.27) it states that ‘an order from the Shariah, whether it is from Allah or Rasulullah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam, is wajib to act upon unless otherwise stated.  So keeping a beard is wajib and to do anything contrary to that is impermissible, so therefore a person will be sinful in shaving a beard.

In another hadith, the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Waslam has cursed men who imitate women and those women who imitate men. (Sahih Bukhari p.874 v.2 & Sunan Abi Dawud p.212 v.2)

Therefore, the conclusion we can come to is that keeping a beard is wajib and those who do not keep it will be committing a sin.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham