Are the sideburns part of the beard?

Q:

1. Are the sideburns regarded as part of the beard in Islam? Is it allowed for men to shave them?

2. While trimming one's sideburns, if a few hairs of the beard are accidentally cut (the hair of the beard being shorter than one's fist), will it be a sin?

A:

1. The bone that is parallel to the centre of the ear is the point from where the beard commences. Above this point is regarded as the hair of the head.

2. One should make tawbah and in future be more careful.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)