In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

by Sahibzada Hafiz Muhammad A Wahid

Compulsion of the Beard

The Quran says: "No altering let there be in Allah's creation" (Surah Roum, Ayah 30)

Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam) stated:

"Ten things are of nature, in which cutting the moustache and growing a full beard are mentioned." (Abu Dawood)

"Trim the moustache closely, and let the beard flow (grow)". (Muslim)

"Act against (contrary) to the polytheists, trim closely the moustache and grow the beard." (Muslim)

"Trim closely the moustache and grow the beard". (Muslim)

'I have no connection with one who shaves, shouts and tears his clothing e.g. in grief or affection". (Bukhari and Muslim)

"Any one who shaves has no claim to the mercy of ALLAH." (Tabraani)

Sahaba

Abdullah Ibn Umar used to cut that portion (which exceeds the grip of the hand) of beard. (Tirmidhi).

The teaching of Ammar Bin Yaasir, Abdullah Ibn Umar, Sayyidina Umar, Abu Hurairah and Jaabir, indicates that all of them used to keep a beard that was one fist in length or more. Jaabir had said; "We used to grow long beards and only during Hajj and Umrah did we trim them to the required length."

Abdullah Ibn Umar relates that; "He who imitates the kuffaar (non-believers) and dies in that state, will be raised up with them on the Day of Qiyamah (Judgement)."

Kisra, the King of Persia, after having read the letter sent by the Rasul (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam) of ALLAH inviting him to accept the faith of Islam, ordered his sub-ordinate Bayon (Badhun), the governor of Yemen, to send two persons to bring the Rasul (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam) of Islam before him. Bayon accordingly sent two messengers who according to the fashion of those days were clean shaven and had long moustaches. When they appeared on the scene in front of the Rasul (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam) of Allah, he very much disliked their unnatural appearances of those persons and said; "Woe to you, Woe to you. Who ordered you to adopt such appearances? They said; "Our lord Kisra". The Rasul (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam) of Allah then told them "My Rabb COMMANDED me to lengthen my beard and clip my moustache". (Tabraani)

Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam) said, "There were ten such habits amongst the people of Lut ('alahis salam) which were the cause of their destruction. Amongst these habits is listed the shaving of the beard and the lengthening of the moustache." (Ibn Asaakir)

The Khulafa Rashideen

Abu Bakr Siddique had a dense beard. (Qoot al-Quloob)

Umar al Farooq had a large beard. (al-Isaabah)

Uthman Ibn Affan had a large and great beard. (Tariqh al-Waqidi)

Ali ibn Abi Talib had a broad beard, which reached the width of his shoulders. (Tariqh al-Khulafa)

The Great Imams of Islamic Jurisprudence

[ Next Page ]