What is the ruling of growing a beard for men in Islam? Is it compulsory or Sunnah?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) commanded us to let our beard grow and to trim our moustache. (Bukhari and Muslim) Based on this, the jurists state that it is wajib (compulsory) to let one’s beard grow upto the length of one fist. If one’s beard grows longer than a fist in size, it will be permissible to trim the excess. However, to trim one’s beard shorter than a fist in size is not permissible.
(Fatawa Mahmudiya: 19/394; Raddul Muhtaar: 2/418 HM Saeed)
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faizal Riza
13/9/2011