Fatwa ID: 02571
Answered by: Maulana Maruf Ahmed
Question
Can you please clarify these 2 questions
1 In hanafi school, it states to either trim the moustache or shave it. In regards to trimming it does it have to be trimmed so short that the skin is visible or can it just be trimmed neat and tidy so no hair is covering the top of the upper lip. Some places state to trim it as long as not covering upper lip but others stating skin has to show. Is there any proof to state skin has to show or does it just state to trim it.
2 If I don't keep a beard does this throw me out of the Sunni Hanafi religion and does it mean I am no longer a Muslim
Answer
Concerning the length of the moustache, Imam Ibn Abideen writes:
“The [Hanafi] scholars differed concerning the sunnah of the moustache; should it be trimmed or shaved? The accepted position of some of our later scholars is that the moustache should be trimmed. Imam Tahawi said; ‘trimming it is good, but shaving it is better. And this is the opinion of our three Imams [Abu Hanifah and his two students].’” [1]
He further states: “The [amount] that should be trimmed is such that the upper lip should be visible.” [2]
As for not keeping a beard, this does not equate to leaving the religion.
And only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Maruf Ahmed
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] (Ibn Abideen: Radd al-Muhtar, vol. 2 pg. 550, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)
