Can the mosque appoint a permanent Imam with a short beard, when the other appointed Imam is absent? Can the Alim with the short beard lead the Salaah? Can the Alim with the short beard give speech before Arabic Khutbah on Jummah prayers? If necessary, can he also give the Arabic Khutbah? If necessary, can he also lead the jumah Salaah? Can the Alim with the short beard lead Salaah when there is an eclipse of the Moon or Sun? If a person reads his Salaah behind the Alim with the short beard, is his Salaah valid, Makrooh etc? Can the people who shave regularly be trustees or committee members of a mosque? I thank you very much for your time. Shahid Mahmood.
Ref. No. 1209 Alif
In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful
The answer to your question is as follows:
Keeping beard to the extent of one fist in length is wajib in Shariah. If someone’s beard is longer than a fist in size, he can trim it so as to make it a fist. However, trimming one’s beard shorter than a fist is prohibited and sinful. Performing namaz behind an Imam who trims his beard is makrooh e Tahreemi. Such a person should not be chosen to lead any namaz. Nevertheless the prayers performed behind such an imam are valid and it is not required to repeat them. Practicing muslims should be preferred to be in the trustee or committee of masjid. Those who don’t keep proper beard for fear of Allah, how they can fear Allah in other matters!
However, if there is no person with proper beard available to lead the prayer, then it is better to offer the prayer in jamat (congregation) behind someone who trims his beard than to offer it alone.
And Allah knows best
Darul Ifta
Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband