Fatwa ID: 02607

Answered by: Maulana Imran Mughal

Question

Assalamualaikum. Hope you are well?
I just wanted to ask about the ruling of the beard. Specifically the neck area. I have heard that the hair under the Adam's apple can be cut and just that. And I have also heard that you can cut all the hair on your neck until your jawline and the neck is not a part of your beard?

Answer

Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

The liḥyah in Arabic translated as beard has been defined by linguistics as “that which grows on the jawbones and chin.”[1]

Sheikh Anwar Shah Kashmiri asserts a similar understanding in his sharh of Bukhari, he says: “A beard is that which grows on the jawbone. This is the reason why it is known in the Hindi/Urdu language as “Darhi” because it is derived from the root-word “Darh (molar teeth)” for a beard is that which grows (on the outside of the) molar teeth. As regards to the hair which grows on the two cheeks, it is not part of the beard linguistically, even though (some) jurists have disliked removing it because shaving it with a razor causes the cheeks to become rough, and plucking it weakens the eyesight.”[2]

When it comes to the neck, Allāmah Ibn Abidin writes the following: “One should not shave the hair from one’s throat. However, it is narrated from Imam Abu Yusuf (Allah have mercy on him) that there is nothing wrong with it.”[3]

In light of this, it will be considered permissible to shave or trim the hair of the throat

And Allah SWT alone knows best.

Answered by Maulana Imran Mughal

Checked and approved Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham