Q. Can one trim ones beard from the jaw bone, and if so is it advisable not to do so.

In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful.

Answer:

The hair which grows on the cheeks is not considered to be part of the beard. Therefore, it will be permissible to remove the hair of the cheeks by shaving or trimming it. It is stated in Fatawa Hindiyya: “There is nothing wrong in removing the hair of the face as long as it does not cause one to resemble an effeminate.”(Vol 5, P358)

However if there is real fear that one may be tempted to surpass and shave or trim below the jawbone then one should refrain from removing hair from the cheeks as the principles of Islamic Jurisprudence state that: “The inevitable is considered actual” and “prevent evil before it actually happens”. (Al Ashbah Wan Nazair)

Only Allah knows best

Sayeedur Rahman

Darul Ifta, Birmingham