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Beard, Miswaak & Turban

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Muftionline.co.za

Q:

  1. Did Nabi (Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam) ever trim His Blessed beard?
  2. If not, how is a fist lenght beard an emphasized Sunnah?
  3. Which is more rewarding; a trimmed fistful beard or a completely untrimmed natural beard?
  4. On what basis is it sinful to trim (not shave) the beard less than a fist length (and not resembling the non-believers)?
  5. Is there any Narration that directly prohibits trimming (not shaving) the beard less than a fist length?
  6. Is Miswaak, wearing a turban on the same level as Sunnah, higher or lower, in comparison to having a fist length beard?
  7. Is a person sinful if he does not use a Miswaak or wear a turban?

Bismillaah

A: According to the Ulama it is waajib to grow the beard to the extent of one fist from all sides. Cutting or trimming it less than a fist is impermissible.

It is reported in the Hadith that two Persian messengers (who were sent from the Persian king Kisraa with a message for Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) once came to Madinah Munawwarah. They both had shaved their beards and lengthened their moustaches. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was displeased to see them in this condition. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then asked them “Who had commanded you to shave off your beards and lengthen your moustaches?” They replied, “Our king Kisraa had commanded us to do this”. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then said,”My Lord had commanded me to lengthen the beard and shorten the moustache”

Hadhrat Ibn Umar (Radiyallahu Anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) commanded the trimming of the moustache and the lengthening of the beard.

Hadhrat A’isha (Radiyallahu Anha) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Ten actions are from among the Sunnah (which were practised by the Ambiya of the past) shortening the moustache, lengthening the beard, using the Miswaak, cleaning the nose with water, paring the nails, washing in between the fingers and limbs, plucking the hair under the armpits, removing the pubic hair and making istinjaa at the time of relieving oneself”.

It is reported from Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasalllam Said, “Oppose the non Muslims by lengthening the beards and shortening the moustaches.” Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu used to trim his beard after it reached a fist length. The Sahaabah are the criteria in understanding Deen and the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, hence, we understand that trimming or cutting the beard before one fist is impermissible.

Wearing a turban and using a Miswaak are both Mubaarak Sunnah’s of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam which earns one tremendous reward. However if a person does not use a Miswaak or  a turban (since they are not Waajib) he will not be sinful. As far as growing a beard till the length of one fist then this is compulsory (Waajib). Hence one will be sinful if one does not fulfill this Waajib injunction.

Refer to the attached document which explains the importance of the beard in Deen as well as the verdicts of the four madhabs in regard to the beard.

ولا بأس بنتف الشيب و أخذ أطراف اللحية والسنة فيها القبضة … ولذا يحرم على الرجل قطع لحيته (الدر المختار 6/406)

( لا ) يكره … تطويل اللحية إذا كانت بقدر المسنون وهو القبضة … وأما الأخذ منها وهي دون ذلك كما يفعله بعض المغاربة ومخنثة الرجال فلم يبحه أحد وأخذ كلها فعل يهود الهند ومجوس الأعاجم (الدر المختار 2/417-418)

رقم5892 -عن ابن عمر عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال خالفوا المشركين وفروا اللحى وأحفوا الشوارب وكان ابن عمر إذا حج أو اعتمر قبض على لحيته فما فضل أخذه (بخاري)
ودخلا على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقد حلقا لحاهما وأعفيا شواربهما فكره النظر إليهما وقال ” ويلكما من أمركما بهذا ؟ ” قالا أمرنا ربنا – يعنيان كسرى – فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ” ولكن ربي أمرني باعفاء لحيتي وقص شاربي (البداية والنهاية 6/486)

السيرة الحلبية 3/246

فتاوى رحيمية 10/108

رقم  22 -عن أبي هريرة قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم لولا أن أشق على أمتي لأمرتهم بالسواك عند كل صلاة (ترمذي)

عن عبد الله بن عمر أن رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أمر بإحفاء الشوارب وإعفاء اللحى (سنن أبي داود رقم 4201)

عن ابن عمر قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم أحفوا الشوارب وأعفوا اللحى (جامع الترمذي رقم 2763)

عن عمرو بن شعيب عن أبيه عن جده أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يأخذ من عرض لحيته وطولها بالسوية (شعب الايمان للبيهقي رقم 6019)

عن جابر بن عبد الله قال رأى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم رجلا مجفل الرأس واللحية فقال على ما شوه أحدكم أمس قال وأشار النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى لحيته ورأسه يقول خذ من لحيتك ورأسك (شعب الايمان للبيهقي رقم 6020)

عن عائشة قالت قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم عشر من الفطرة قص الشارب وإعفاء اللحية والسواك والاستنشاق بالماء وقص الأظفار وغسل البراجم ونتف الإبط وحلق العانة وانتقاص الماء يعنى الاستنجاء بالماء (سنن أبي داود رقم 53)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

This answer was collected from MuftiOnline.co.za, where the questions have been answered by Mufti Zakaria Makada (Hafizahullah), who is currently a senior lecturer in the science of Hadith and Fiqh at Madrasah Ta’leemuddeen, Isipingo Beach, South Africa.

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