Question:
What is the ruling of keeping a beard?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In Arabic, the beard is known as lihyah. Syeikh Ibn Sidah in Lisan al-Arab said: “Lihyah is a name for something that includes the hairs that grow on both cheeks and chin.”
Imam al-Tirmizi in Syamail Muhammadiyyah describes that the Prophet PBUH has a thick and dense beard. It is according to a hadith narrated as the following:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- ...كَثِيرَ شَعْرِ اللِّحْيَةِ
“And the beard of the Prophet PBUH is thick.”
Sahih Muslim (6230)
Hence, from the above hadith, it should be understood that there is an encouragement of maintaining and keeping a beard.
The Prophet PBUH said:
خَالِفُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَحْفُوا الشَّوَارِبَ، وَأَوْفُوا اللِّحَى
“Act against the polytheists, trim closely the moustache and grow a beard.”
Sahih Muslim (259)
The scholars have a differing opinion regarding the ruling of keeping a beard:
- It is an obligation. This is the opinion of the majority of fiqh scholars and some scholars from madhab Syafi’e.
- It is sunnah. This is the opinion of some scholars of madhab Syafi’e.
Here we include several opinions of jurists from madhab Syafi’e:
- Syeikhul Islam Zakaria al-Ansari said: “It is makruh (undesirable) to remove (shave or cut) beard in its early growth, prioritizing the handsomeness and good looks of a man.” (See Asna al-Mathalib, 1/551)
- Syeikh al-Ramli said: “The statement (and it is makruh to remove it) refers to the beard. And others, such as shaving it.”
- Al-Hulaimi in his book Al Minha state: “It is prohibited for someone to shave his beard and both his eyebrows. This is a weak opinion.” (See Hasyiyah Asna Al-Mathalib, 1/551)
- Imam Ibnu Hajar al-Haitami said: “They presented the issue of beard and others, among of which is ruled as makruh are: removing and shaving (beard). And this also includes both eyebrows.” (See Tuhfah al-Muhtaj, 9/375-376)
- Syeikh Ibnu Qasim al-Ubbadi said: “The words (of prohibition), is different from the strong (final) opinion; both Imam al-Nawawi and al-Rafi’e stated that it is makruh to shave the beard.” (See Hasyiyah Tuhfat al Muhtaj, 9/375-376)
- Al-Bujairimi said: “Indeed, shaving beards is makruh even for men, not prohibited.” (See Hasyiyah al-Bujairimi, 4/346)
After analysing the above discussions, in our opinion, it is sunnah to keep one’s beard for someone who is prohibited from keeping it from any parties.
However, it should be reminded that in keeping a beard, one should keep it neat and clean, so that it will not be tangled and messy which would lead to criticisms. This would ultimately lead to a misunderstanding of a commandment of the Prophet PBUH which is a clear contradiction to what the Prophet PBUH did. Some scholars even cite the opinion of Ibnu Umar R.Anhuma where he said that his beard is just a handful.
May Allah SWT give us a good understanding regarding the sunnah and bless us with the strength to practise it the best we could.
End Notes:
You can also refer to IRSYAD FATWA SERIES 190: THE RULING OF SHAVING BEARD ON THE ORDER OF EMPLOYER