What Islam says About the Beard

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From The Shari Length of the Beard by Mufti Afzal Elias, May Allah reward him abundantly,
aameen.

This pamphlet is to emphasize the importance and the length of the beard. Many Muslims have
queried regarding this point. I have also found that people prefer keeping a beard in imitation of
what's in vogue rather than that prescribed by Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). A compilation of
this nature has become important because the impact of the western way of life seems to be
luring unwary Muslims into such a craze that the importance of the beard itself is
being doubted and scoffed at.

To those who feel the issue is trivial to worry about, may ALLAH guide him. But to those who
genuinely wish to learn and practice what is right, here are sufficient proofs from the Qur'an,
Ahadeeth, and learned scholars.

Concerning Adherence to the Sunnah in the Holy Qur'an:

"O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with
authority among you. " (Quran 4:59)
"O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him
when ye hear (him speak)." (Quran 8:20)
"O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He
calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in
between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be
gathered. "(Quran 8:24)
"Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exempler for him who
hopes in Allah and the Final Day, and who remembers Allah." (Quran 33:21)
"What Allah has bestowed on His Messenger (and taken away) from the people of
the townships,- belongs to Allah,- to His Messenger and to kindred and orphans,
the needy and the wayfarer; in order that it may not (merely) make a circuit
between the wealthy among you. So take what the Messenger gives you, and
refrain from what he prohibits you. And fear Allah: for Allah is strict in
Punishment. " (Quran 59:7)

Importance of the Beard in the words of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi

Wasallam):
(1) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said "I have no connection iwth one who shaves,
shouts and tears his clothing eg. in grief or affication."
- Reported by Abu Darda (R.A.) in Muslim, Hadith no. 501
(2) The teachings of Hadhrat Ammar Bin Yaasir, Abdullah Ibn Umar, Sayyidina Umar, Abu
Hurairah and Jaabir (R.A.), indicate that ALL used to keep beards that were one fist length or
more. Hadhrat Jaabir (R.A.) had said: "We used to grow long beards and only during Hajj and
Umrah did we trim them to the required length (i.e. fist length)."
(3) Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (R.A.) relates that: "He who imitates the kuffar (non-believers) and
dies in that state, he will be raised up with them on the Day of Qiyamat (Judgement)."
(4) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) says: "Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard
flow (Grow)."
- Narrated Ibn Umar (R.A.) in Muslim, Hadith no. 498
(5) "Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) ordered us to trim the moustache closely and spare
the beard" says Ibn Umar.
- Muslim, Hadith no. 449
(6) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)said: "Act against contrary to the polythesists, trim
closely the moustache and grow the beard."
- Reported by Ibn Umar (R.A.) in Muslim, Hadith no. 500
(7) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said "Trim closely the moustache and grow the
beard."
- Reported by Abu Hurairah (R.A.) in Muslim, Hadith no. 501
(8) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Anyone who shaves has no claim to the mercy
of Allah"
- Reported by Ibn Abbas (R.A.) in Tibrabi
(9) Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (R.A.) used to cut that portion (which exceeds the grip of the
hand) of the beard. Tirmidhi

Conclusion_
Thus, a Muslim who shaves or shortens his beard is like a hermaphrodite, his Imamate near
prohibition, his evidence is not valid, he will not have the right to vote or being voted for. Shaving
and shortening the beard is the action of non-believers. Imam Ghazzali (RA) says: "Know that the
key to total bliss (Saadah) lies in following the Sunnah and in emulating the life of Rasulullah
(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in ALL that issues from him, and in ALL his doings even if it
concerns the manner of his eating, rising, sleeping, and speaking. I do say thisin relation to rituals
in worship ONLY because ther is no way neglecting the Sunnah reported of him in such matters -
but what I say INCLUDES EVERY ASPECT of his daily life." (Kitab al Arbain Addin, Cairo 1344,
p. 89).
Furthermore, in the Holy Qur'an, Allah told Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) to say:
"Say: " If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your
sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. " (Quran 3:31)
The daily recitation of a band of angels of Allah is "Holy is the Being who adorned men
with beards and women with braids" (Takmela e Bahr al Raiq, Vol. 3, p. 331)
Lastly, Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'an: "And when the true believers are called to
Allah and His Rasul (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) [to accept and practice the law and
commands of Allah and His Rasul (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)] that he may pass
judgement upon them, their ONLY reply is 'We hear and obey.' Such men shall
surely prosper. " (24:51)
THE CALL IS TO GROW A FIST LENGTH BEARD, LET US HEAR AND OBEY TO
PROSPER.

The Blessed Beard... Grow it, what's so hard to understand?

Commentary by Islam.tc
Muslims are overcome with western influence in their lives and it's easy to forget, nay, neglect
the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Little do these Muslims realize the
magnitude of their actions in imitating Kufaar (see Hadith section). This is a truly shocking!
Hopefully the information presented herein will enlighten those. And then there are others who
claim that the matters concerning beards is a "little" issue not worthy of mention nor practice. To
them I say get off the denial bandwagon, you're a Muslim! Follow the Prophet (Peace be upon
him) in all aspects of life, for he was the best of examples. I couldn't tell you how many times I've
mistaken a Muslim brother (outside of the Masjid) for a kaafir on account of his cleanshaven,
well oiled, face. How can I say "Assalaamu Alaikum Brother!" when I do not know if he is a
Muslim. Yet that very brother then wonders why he was ignored! Sure, he can tell if others are
Muslim on account of their beard, but what about himself? From one brother to another, I say:
"Grow a beard, then, since it also promotes Brotherhood in the real world. Stand with your
Brothers, be one. We know you think you are handsome without it (a beard), but who cares?
What matters is how Allah (S.W.T.) sees you.
And when you do grow a beard, don't mock the Sunnah, please grow it correctly, i.e. FIST
LENGTH. That is the prescribed length and no shorter (see Hadeeth section)..." Peace