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.
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