Q: If we keep a beard according to the Sunnah is it ok to cut the hair on the neck? Also can we shape the beard?
A: Trimming the beard to a fist length is permissible and preferable according to the Hanafi Fuqahaa.
Trimming it to a fist length is proven from the Salaf as mentioned by Sayyidina Hasan Basri (Rahmatullaahi Alayh) (Musannaf Abdur Razzaaq). Abu Zur’ah narrates that Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) trimmed his beard in excess of a fist length.
When the beard is trimmed to a fist length, automatically it will take shape.
The hair on the neck can be removed.
Moulana Yusuf Laher