Assalaamo alaikum, I am writing in regard to your fatwa "A person who has a Shar'ee beard will be preferred over the Hafiz who does not have a Shar'ee beard."(Answer 4844)

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I am a Syrian Muslim and an imam in a local Musjid. To the best of my knowledge the Holy Prophet sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam has not specified a specific length for beard. I have not come across a single saying of the Holy Prophet sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam in any book of ahadith that commands the believers to keep the beard to a certain length. Then, what's a shar'ee beard? Would you please indicate the hadith that made the base for your fatwa? Mind you, I asked for a hadith, not an opinion of a faqih or shaikh. The shar'ia is based on the text and principle given in the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet, not on the sayings of fuqha and mashaikh or even reverend sahaba (ridwanullahi alaihim ajmaeen). Among other learned men, Shaikh Abul 'Ala Maududi (Rahimullah), a very prominent Islamic scholar, who's accorded a great eminence in the Muslim world, also opined that there's no Shar'ee length of beard. Please tell us what's the basis of your fatwa. Jazakallah khair

Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abbassommar · Accepted Answer

Imaam Bukhari (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports on the authority of Naafi' who narrates from Abdullah ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'Oppose the Mushrikeen (polytheists); lengthen the beard and trim the moustache.'

Naafi' further states, 'And ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) during Hajj or Umrah used to hold on to his beard with his fist and cut off whatever was in excess of that.' (Bukhari vol.2 pg.875; Kitaab-ul-Libaas)

Through this Hadith, the verdict of the growing of the beard being Waajib (obligatory) is deduced. That is because any explicit command of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) will be regarded as Waajib, if there is no apparent, clear reason/proof which states that that particular command is for Istihbaab (preference). This is an established fact in Usool-ul-Fiqh (principles of jurisprudence).

Moreover, the Wujoob is further emphasized by the fact that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) did practice on this in his entire life. Know well that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not trim his beard in his life (there is no Sahih Hadith which proves otherwise). However, because the narrator himself (Ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) did trim his beard upto a fist's length, this implies that the Wujoob of keeping a beard is upto a fist length only.

Furthermore, such has also been reported from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and other Taabi'een. (Tamheed of ibn Abdul-Barr and Fathul Baari). Therefore, the meaning of our statement that you question is, 'If any person has trimmed his beard upto less than one fist, then his beard will not be a Shar'ee beard.'

Lastly, for your knowledge, the sayings and actions of the Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) is a Hujjah (proof) according to the majority of the scholars. However, the conditions for acceptance may differ. This is also an established principle in Usool-ul-Fiqh. Hence, the refutation of a Shar'ee b eard by the scholar you have mentioned does not hold any weight in front of the Shar'ee proof we have mentioned.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abbassommar
FACULTY OF SPECIALTY IN HADITH

CHECKED AND APPROVED: Moulana Imraan Vawda

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