Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Someone said:” According to Abdullah ibn Masud – (one of the companions of the Prophet salallahu alayhi wassalum) – he said that the longer the man’s beard – the shorter his intellect .
Walaikum assalam,
This applies to excessive length, well beyond a fistful (which was the norm among the Companions and early Muslims), such that it cannot be well-kept.
Also according to Imam Malik – it is detested to shave the mustache and it is acceptable to have hair on the jaw line.
The first part is differed upon; the second, unclear. Difference of opinion .
but also as a note – Habib Ahmed Mashur al-Haddad (rahimullah) was of the opinion that it is acceptable to simply have the hair under the chin. “
As mentioned, the position of the Shafi`is and Malikis is that the beard (minimally) is that which grows on the chin, even if only a little. As such, in both schools, it is valid to have a goatee or a trim beard, though non-optimal, and it is not sinful. Whenever there are valid differences of opinion (such as those between the four sunni schools of law), one accepts and respects others’ right to follow any of these positions, even if one holds another position.
The Hanafi position is that it is wajib, as established by the sunna, for the beard to be a fistful. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar] The texts that call it a sunna refer to this, as explained in other texts.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani.