Q: Is there any authentic narration which directly and emphatically mentions that trimming the beard is a punishable sin? How is sin and good determined in Islam? Is it Haraam or Makrooh to trim the beard? Did Nabi (Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam) ever trim His Blessed beard? If not, how is a fist lenght beard is an emphasised Sunnah? Which is more rewarding a trimmed fistful beard or a completely untrimmed natural beard? What is the ruling if one trims before it reaches a fist lenght? On what basis does a person continue to be sinful if he trims his beard before it is a fistful while trimmimg after a fistful is not sinful?
A: According to the Ulama it is waajib to grow the beard to the extent of one fist from all sides. Cutting or trimming it less than a fist is impermissible. It is reported in the Hadith that two Persian messengers (who were sent from the Persian king Kisraa with a message for Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) once came to Madinah Munawwarah. They both had shaved their beards and lengthened their moustaches. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was displeased to see them in this condition. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then asked them "Who had commanded you to shave off your beards and lengthen your moustaches?" They replied, "Our king Kisraa had commanded us to do this". Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then said,"My Lord had commanded me to lengthen the beard and shorten the moustache"
It is reported from Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalllam Said, "Oppose the non Muslims by lengthening the beards and shortening the moustaches." Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu used to trim his beard after it reached a fist length. The Sahaabah are the criteria in understanding Deen and the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, hence, we understand that trimming or cutting the beard before one fist is impermissible.
ولا بأس بنتف الشيب و أخذ أطراف اللحية والسنة فيها القبضة ... ولذا يحرم على الرجل قطع لحيته (الدر المختار 6/406)
( لا ) يكره ... تطويل اللحية إذا كانت بقدر المسنون وهو القبضة ... وأما الأخذ منها وهي دون ذلك كما يفعله بعض المغاربة ومخنثة الرجال فلم يبحه أحد وأخذ كلها فعل يهود الهند ومجوس الأعاجم (الدر المختار 2/417-418)
عن ابن عمر عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال خالفوا المشركين وفروا اللحى وأحفوا الشوارب وكان ابن عمر إذا حج أو اعتمر قبض على لحيته فما فضل أخذه (بخاري رقم5892)
ودخلا على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقد حلقا لحاهما وأعفيا شواربهما فكره النظر إليهما وقال " ويلكما من أمركما بهذا ؟ " قالا أمرنا ربنا - يعنيان كسرى - فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " ولكن ربي أمرني باعفاء لحيتي وقص شاربي (البداية والنهاية 6/486)
السيرة الحلبية 3/246
فتاوى رحيمية 10/108
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