(This is a re-sent, original query was not responded) Assalaamo Alaikum, you have erred in your response to question no.4844.

Question

The Holy Prophet said: "The imam of a people should be the one who is the most versed in the Quran. If they are equal in their recital, then the one who is most knowledgeable of the Sunnah. If they are equal in the Sunnah, then it is the one who migrated first. If they are equal in that, then it is the eldest." Now, please tell me where beard's length is mentioned in this Hadith? It's only Moulvis of India/Pakistan who so vehemently insist on a ruling that doesn't exist. I had the opportunity to meet many Muslim scholars during my sojourn in Arab countries and Malaysia. Many of those scholars had beard what Indian/Pakistani Moulvis would call "ghair Shar'ee beard." They were not only learned men but also God-fearing people. I believe the problem is that many of our Moulvis do not have a clear understanding of what constitutes Shar'ia. They commit grave error when they include the opinion of Fuqaha, Mashaikh or even the illustrious companions of the Holy Prophet within the body of Islamic Shar'ia. Please understand only and only Allah SWT has a right to give Shar'ia. The Prophets were Sha'ray only because they were Allah's Messengers on this earth.

Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abbassommar · Accepted Answer

The Hadith quoted by yourself is quite explicit in it's context. However, your question is inappropriate and out of context.

Having a beard is a pre-requisite of every believer. Like it is not mentioned in this Hadith that the Imaam has to be a male, but we all know that this is a pre-requisite and is proven through other proofs in Shari'ah. Covering of the private parts (Satar) is also a preprequisite but will one claim that because this specific Hadith does not make mention of it, therefore, it will not be a pre-condition. Hence, the Imaamat of an unclad person who is 'the most versed in the Qur'aan' is proper?

Similarly, a person who is an open sinner, though he may be well versed in the holy Qur'aan will not be preferred over someone the opposite (someone who is outwardly Allah fearing) and is also well versed in the Qur'aan. Once the above has been understood, know well that any person who trims his beard upto less than a fist length will be regarded as an open sinner (Faasiq), reason being he has left out an act which is Waajib (obligatory). Growing of the beard upto this length is Waajib according to all four illustrious Imaams, i.e. Imaam Abu Hanifa, Maaliki, Shaaf'ee and ibn Hanbal (RA). A close study of their respective Madhabs and the highly ranked books of each Madhab will prove that.

Your misconception of the Ulama of a certain community does not hold any weight. A famous saying goes as follows: 'Alhaqqu laa yu'uraf bil rijaal, bal al-rijaal yu'uraf bil haqq' (The truth will not be judged by the actions of people. Instead, people will be judged according to the truth).

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abbassommar
FACULTY OF SPECIALTY IN HADITH

CHECKED AND APPROVED CORRECT: Mufti Ebrahim Desai

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 beard 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

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