[Excerpts From The Shari Length of the Beard by Mufti Afzal Elias] This pamphet is to emphasiz the importance and the lenth of te beard. Many Muslims have queried regarding this point. I have also found that people prefer keeping a beard in imitation of what's in vogue rahter than that prescribed by Nabi(Sllalahu Alayhi Wasallam). A compilation of this nature has become important becuase the impact of the western way of life seems to be luring unwary Muslims into such a craze that the importance of the beard itself is being doubted and scoffed at. To those who feel the issu is trivial to worry about, may ALLAH guide them. But to those who genuinely wish to learn and practice what is right, here are sufficient proofs for the Qur'an, Ahadeeth, and learned scholars. Concerning Adherence to the Sunnat in teh Holy Qur'an: "O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you." (Quran 4:59) "O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him when ye hear(him speak)." (Quran 8:20) "O ye who believe! give your response to Allah adn His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Who ye shall (all) be gathered." (Quran 8:24) "Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example for him who hopes in Allah and the Final Day, and who remembers Allah" (Quran 33:21) "What Allah has bestowed on His Messenger (and taken away) from the people of the townships- belongs to Allah- to His Messenger and to kindred and orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; in order that it may not (merely) make a circuit between the wealthy among you. So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah is strict in Punishment." (Quran 59:7) Importance of the Beard in the words of Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam): (1) Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "I have no connection with one who shaves, shouts and tears his clothing eg. in greif or affliction." -Reported by Abu Darda(RA)in Muslim, Hadith no 501 (2) The teachings of Hazrat Ammar Bin Yassir, Abdullah Ibn Umar, Sayyidina Umar, Abu Hurairah and Jaabir(RA) indicate that ALL used to keep beards that were one fist length or more. Hazrat Jaabir(RA) has said: "We used to grow long beards and only during Hajj and Umrah did we trim them to the requried length" (3) Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar(RA) relates that: "He who imitates the kuffar(non-beleivers) and dies in that state, he will be raised up with them on the Day of Judgement." (4) Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) says: "Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard flow." -Narrated Ibn Umar(RA) in Muslim, Hadith Number 498 (5) Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) ordered us to trim the moustache closely and spare the beard" says ibn Umar. Muslim Hadith Number 449 (6) Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: " Act against the contrary to the polythesists, trim closely the moustache and grow the beard." Reported by Ibn Umar(RA) in Muslim, Hadith Number 500 (7) Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Trim closely the moustache and grow the beard." Reported by Abu Hurairah(RA) in Muslim, Hadith number 501 (8) Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Anyone who shaves has no claim to the mercy of Allah" -Reported by Ibn Abbas(RA) in Tibrabi (9) Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) used to cut that portion(which exceeds the grip of the hand) of the beard. -Tirmidhi The Beard according to the Great Imams of Jurisprudence HANAFI Imam Muhammed(RA) writes in his book"kitabul Aathaar" where he relates from Imam Abu Hanifa(RA) who relates from Hazrat Haytham(RA) who relates from Ibn Umar(RA) that he (Ibn Umar) used to hold his beard in his hand and cut off which was longer. Imam Muhammed(RA) says that this what we follow and this was the decision of Imam Abu Hanifa. Therefore. according to Hanafies, to shorten the beard less that a FIST LENGHT is HARAAM and on thsi is IJMA(concensus of opinion). SHAFI Imam Shafi(RA) in his Kitabul Umm states, "To shave the beard is HARAAM."(Shari Minhaj dar Shara Fasi Aqueeqa) MALIKI Sheik Ahmad Nafarawi Maliki in the commentary of Imam Abu Zayed's booklet states, "to shave the beard is without doubt haraam according to all Imams." It is also mention in "Tamheed" which is a commentary of "Muatta"(Sunnan Imam Malik (RA) that to shave the beard is HARAAM and among males the only ones to resort to this practice (of shaving) are the HERMAPHRODITES (persons who posses both male and female features adn characteristics). HAMBALI The Hambalies in teh famous Al-Khanie a Hambali Fatawa Kitab state that "to grow the beard is essential and to shave it is HARAAM." Also in the Hanbali Mathab books"Sharahul Muntahaa" and "Sharr Manzoomatul Aadaab", it is stated "The most accepted vies is that it is HARAAM (prohibited to shave the beard)." Also not, according to scholars of Islam "To shave off the beard is unlawful (haraam) and one who shaves his beard is legally speaking an unrighteous fellow(FASIQ), hence, it is NOT PERMISSIBLE to appoint such a man as an Imam. To say Taraweeh behind such an Imam is MAKRUH-E-TAHRIMI (near prohibition)" (Shami Vol.1,p.523) The Durre-Mukhtar states:"No one has called it permissible to trim it (the beard) less than FIST-LENGTH as is being done by some westernized Muslims and hermaphrodites."(Vol.2,p155). Also, "It is forbidden(Haraam) for a man to cut off another's beard."(Vol.5,p359) CONCLUSION Thus, a Muslim who shaves or shortens his beard is like a hermaphro- dite, his Imamate near prohibiton, his evidence is not valid, he will not have the right to vote or being voted for. Shaving and shortening the beard is the action of non-believers. Imam Ghazzali (RA) says: "Know that the key to total bliss (Saadah) lies in following theSunnah and in emulating the life of Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalam) in ALL that issues from him, and in ALL his doings even if it concerns the manner of his eating, rising, sleeping, and speaking. I do say this in relation to rituals in worship ONLY because there is no way of neglecting the Sunnah reported of him in such matters-but what I say INCLUDES EVERY ASPECT of his daily life." (Kitab al Arbain, Cairo 1344p.89). Furthermore, in the Holy Quran, Allah told Rasululullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalam) to say: Say: "If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran 3:31) Teh daily recitation of a band of angels of Allah is "Holy is the being who adorned men with beards and women with braids" (Takmela e Bahr al Raiq, Vol 3, p331) Lastly, Allah Taala says in the Holy Quran:"And when the true beleivers are called to Allah and His Rasul (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalam) [to accept and practice the law and commands of Allah and His Rasul(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalam)]that he may pass judgement upon them, their ONLY reply is`We hear and obey`. Such men shall surely prosper." (24:51) *********************************************************************THE CALL IS TO GROW A FIST LENGTH BEARD, LET US HEAR AND OBEY TO PROSPER.
*********************************************************************Muslims are overcome with western influence in their lives adn it's easy to forget, nay, neglect the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammed (Peace be Upon Him). Little do these Muslims realize the magnitude fo their actions in imitating Kufaar(see hadith section). Hopefully the information presented herein will enlighten those. And then there are others who claim that the matters concerning beards is a "little" issue not worthy of mention nor practice. To them I say get off the denial bandwagon, you are a Muslim! Follow the Prophet(Peace be upon him) in all aspects of life, for he was the best of examples. I couln't tell you how many times I've mistaken a Muslim brother (outside of the Masjid) for a kaafir on account of his clean-shaven, well oiled, face. How can I say "Assalaamu Alaikum Brother! when I do not know if he is a Muslim. Yet that very brother then wonders why he was ignored! From one brother to another, I say: "Grow a beard, then, since it also promotes Brotherhood in the real world. Stand with your Brohters, be one. We know you are handsome without it (a beard), but who cares? What matters is how Allah(S.W.T.) sees you. And when you do grow a beard, don't mock the Sunnah, please grow it correctly, i.e. FIST LENGTH. This is the prescribed length and no shorter (see Hadeeth section)...Peace. THE BLESSED BEARD...GROW IT, WHAT'S SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND? (COMMENTARY)
