Shaving the moustache and leaving the beard to grow

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Question: If a man shaves his moustache and leaves his beard (to grow), is there any sin in this? And
what did the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) used to do?

Response: All Praise is for Allaah the One, and prayers and salutations upon His Messenger, upon his
family and his companions. To proceed…

The Sunnah is to trim the moustache and not to remove it as the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)
said:

((Trim the moustaches and leave the beards (to grow) and oppose (differ) from themushrikoon)).
The authenticity of this hadeeth is agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

If he shaved it (off) then there is nothing (no sin) upon him. As for the beard, then it is obligatory to leave it
(to grow) as the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((Trim the moustaches and leave the beards (to grow), (in doing so) oppose (differ from)
the mushrikoon)).

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-
Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -

Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood
Tahreem Halq al-Lihhaa - Page 29;
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Question No.8 of Fatwa No.7293

The salaah of one who shaves off his beard

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Question: Is it correct that the one who shaves off his beard is cursed and that his salaah is unacceptable. If so,
what is the evidence for this?
Response: All Praise is for Allaah the One, and prayers and salutations upon His Messenger, upon his family
and his companions. To proceed…
Allowing the beard to grow is obligatory due to that which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam)
commanded. The basic rule is that a command implies an obligation. Therefore, shaving off the beard is
impermissible (haraam) for that which exists therein of resembling the kuffaar and opposing the command of the
Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) to leave the beard and let it grow. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa
sallam) forbade this and commanded differing from them (the kuffaar).
On the authority of Ibn 'Umar (radhi-yallaahu 'anhumaa), the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Differ from the mushrikoon and leave the beards (to grow) and trim the moustaches)). Transmitted by
Ahmad, al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
Also, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radhi-yallaahu 'anhu), the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa
sallam) said:
((Trim the moustaches and leave the beards (to grow) and oppose (differ) from the magians)). Transmitted
by Ahmad and Muslim.
It is not established in any authentic narration that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) used to trim his
beard from the sides of the face and nor it's length. However, leaving the beard to grow is not a condition for the
correctness of the salaah. Whoever shaves off his beard and prays, then his prayer is not void. However, he is a
sinner for abandoning an action which the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) has commanded
thus opposing his guidance. As for the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) having cursed the like, then we
do not know of the authenticity of this.
And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.
The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood
Tahreem Halq al-Lihhaa - Page 24;
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Question No.1 of Fatwa No.1583

Praying behind a man who shaves off his beard

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Question: A man who shaves off his beard is the khateeb in the central masjid. Do you advise we pray
behind him? Please explain.

Response: All Praise is for Allaah the One, and prayers and salutations upon His Messenger, upon his
family and his companions. To proceed…

Trimming off the beard is haraam for that which has been transmitted by Ahmad, al-
Bukhaareeand Muslim on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (radhi-yallaahu 'anhumaa) that the Prophet (sal-
Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((Differ from the mushrikoon and leave the beards (to grow) and trim the moustaches)).

Also, that which has been transmitted by Ahmad and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radhi-
yallaahu 'anhu) that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((Trim the moustaches and leave the beards (to grow) and oppose (differ) from the magians)).

So, to insist on shaving off the beard is from amongst the major sins, therefore it is obligatory that we
advise the one who shaves off his beard and admonish him for it.

So based upon this, if he is an imaam of a masjid and does not take the advice, then it is obligatory to
replace him if possible providing it does not cause any major fitnah. Otherwise, it is obligatory to pray
behind other than him, from those who are noble, if this is possible for them. This is so as to rebuke and
admonish him, so long as this too does not create any major fitnah. If this is not possible then it is
legislated to pray behind him for the benefit of the congregation and if one fears any fitnah by praying
behind other then him. He should then pray behind him and prevent any fitnah by selecting the lesser of
the two evils.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-
Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -

Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood
Tahreem Halq al-Lihhaa - Page 24;
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Fatwa No.1640

The army in which I work, forces me to shave off my beard

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Question: I have a friend who shaved off his beard, and I admonished him for it, so he told me: "The
system within the army in which I work in my country forces me to shave off my beard". So is this
permissible? (Please) advise us, and may Allaah reward you with good.

Response: In the Name of Allaah, and all Praise is for Allaah (alone). If they force him to do that, then he
should not work for them, and he must resign if he is truthful. Either they allow him not to shave off his
beard, or he must resign, and Allaah will provide a job with more blessings than their job (in the army), (as
He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says):

{And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out
(from every difficulty)}, [Soorah at-Talaaq, Aayah 2].

Shaykh Ibn Baaz

Silsilah Kitaab ad-Da'wah (11), al-Fataawa - Volume 4, Page 42

A new law requires me to shave off my beard in order to renew my passport

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Question: Your excellency, my passport has expired and I want to renew it so that I can come and perform
'Umrah and the obligatory Hajj. (The passport office) requested I shave off my beard in accordance with
the new law which was recently passed in my country. So what do I do? And may Allaah reward you with
good.

Response: In the Name of Allaah, and all Praise is for Allaah (alone). We advise you not to adhere (to their
request) to shave off your beard, and (rather) be patient until another time, and Allaah will make an
opening for you (facilitate for you your affairs), as He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:

{And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out
(from every difficulty)}, [Soorah at-Talaaq, Aayah 2].

And from that which is known, the shaving off of the beard is a sin, because the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) commanded the leaving off of beards to grow. And it is authenticated from him (sal-
Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that he said:

((Indeed, obedience is in (all) that is good, (and) there is no obedience to (any of) the creation
whilst committing a sin against Allaah)).

And may Allaah grant everyone success.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz

Silsilah Kitaab ad-Da'wah (10), al-Fataawa - Volume 3, Page 42
The hairs which grow below the bottom lip
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Question: With regard to the hairs (which grow) below the bottom lip, are they regarded as part of the
beard?

Response: These hairs are called "al-'anfuqah" and are not regarded as part of the beard, (however) it is
preferrable to leave them as they are unless they harm the person.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen

I'laam al-Mu'aasireen bi-Fataawa Ibn 'Uthaymeen - Page 217