Clarifying the Ruling on Shaving the Beard and the Moustache

From 'Abdul-'Aziz Ibn Baz to the Chief Editor of Arab News May peace, blessings, and mercy of Allah be upon you:

I have reviewed, via some assistance, what was published in your newspaper on Friday 2/24/1984 CE, page 7. In the religious section, the following question was sent from S. Rukhan at P. O. Box: 7125 Jeddah. This is the text of the question:

"What is the ruling in Islam for the beard and the moustache? Is there a particular punishment after death for the individual who shaves his beard? If one shaves his beard, are the rewards for his worship and righteous actions that he performs in this life wasted?"

I feel that the answer published in your newspaper was inadequate. The right answer is that to grow one's beard and pare one's moustache is an order prescribed in the Shari'ah, since the Prophet said, according to authentic narrations from him:
"Clip your moustaches and grow your beards, differ from the polytheists."

In his Sahih, Muslim recorded from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
"Pare your moustaches and leave your beards, differ from the Zoroastirans."

These two authentic Hadiths, as well as others with similar meaning, prove that it is obligatory to let the beard grow freely, and not to take anything from it, neither with clippers nor shaving, and that it is obligatory to clip the moustache.

Although no particular punishment has been mentioned in this regard, it is obligatory for the Muslim to abide by the orders of Allah Almighty and the orders of His Messenger, and to stay away from what Allâh prohibited him from, and what His Messenger ﷺ prohibits. This is the case, even if there is not particular punishment mentioned.

It is allowed for the ruler to punish anyone who opposes orders and prohibitions as he sees, by use of preventive punishments that are less than the prescribed punishments. In order to warn the people from committing what Allâh has forbidden and to encourage them to abide by His limits.

It is confirmed that the rightly guided Khalifah, 'Uthman bin 'Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Allâh deters by the ruler what He does not deter by the Qur'an."

Whoever dies with that behavior, he dies under the will of Allah, just like with the rest of the acts of disobedience; if Allâh wills, He pardons him, and if He wills, He punishes him with a punishment warranted for the disobedience he committed.

So the same is the case with shaving the beard and growing the moustache long. Allah Almighty says:
"Verily, Allah forgives not Shirk (that partners should be set up) with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases."

This verse clearly shows that, other than Shirk, all sins are under Allah's will - meaning that He Almighty forgives if He pleases or punishes if He pleases.

This is the view of Ahl As-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah contrary to the view of the Khawarij, the Mu'tazilah and those who follow their path from the people of innovation.

With this it is known that shaving the beard, and allowing the moustache to grow long, like other acts of disobedience which are less than Shirk, are not such that they destroy the other righteous deeds or render their rewards invalid. Only acts of Shirk and the different categories of major disbelief destroy the deeds, not disobedience in general. As Allah Almighty said:
"But if they had joined in worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them".

And He said:
"And indeed it has been revealed to you, as it was to those before you: If you join others in worship with Allah, surely your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."

There are many other verses with a similar meaning.

We ask Allâh to guide us all to do what is right. May Allah send peace and blessings upon Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

O Hamad! This is not the Way to Improve the Situation (A letter All praise is due to Allâh. May Allah send peace and blessings upon Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

I have reviewed what was printed in As-Siyasah (no. 668 the 8/ to the Newspaper As-Siyasat Al-Kuwaytiyah 19/1404 H edition) written by Hamad As-Su'aydan, I found that he had to ascribe to me words I never uttered, may Allah guide him. First, he said that I made it a condition that any Fatwa made under my name must be stamped by myself and attested by the Ministry of Religious Endowments. This is false: I have never stipulated this condition.

Next, he said something strange indeed, commenting on the Prophet's saying.
"Be different from the polytheists, shorten your moustaches and grow your beards".

He claimed that, based on this Hadith, in this time, we should shave our beards because the Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Jews, and idolators let their beards grow and he said: "Therefore we must differ from these groups by shaving our beards. The men of Azhar have applied this Hadith: they have differed from the disbelievers by shaving their beards." Needless to say the writer of this article has shown bad manners and a disregard for the Prophet's ﷺ Sunnah. The Prophet's command concerning the beard is clear, and upon those who disobey this command the following is feared:
"And let those who oppose the Messenger's commandment beware, lest some Fitnah hefall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them."

The Prophet's order to grow the beard is clear, and it is an obligation that must be adhered to until the Day of Judgement, regardless whether the disbelievers grow beards or shave them. If an action of the disbelievers happens to be in accordance with our Shari'ah, that does not mean we should contradict our Shari'ah.

If they decide to enter Islam, which is something obligatory for them, and which we would find good, since we are ordered to invite them to do that, this does not mean that we should leave Islam when they enter it, so that we can oppose them! Rather, we are obligated to invite them to Allah's religion and not to resemble them where they oppose Allah's Shari'ah. This is a matter that is well known according to all of the people of knowledge.

This boldness of the author in using the noble Hadith to obligate shaving the beard because the idolators and others do not shave is a disgusting form of courage to spread falsehood and invite others to it. Moreover, he did not describe the reality of the situation: not all disbelievers grow their beards, some do and some do not. But even if all the disbelievers grew their beards.

we would not go against the order of Allah's Messenger. shaving it just to contradict them. This is not something that even a person with the least amount of knowledge and insight into Allah's Shari'ah would say. Such logic is false and full of evil.

He mentioned the Shaykhs of Al-Azhar who shaved their beards because they realized that some disbelievers grew it. Supposing this to be true, there is no proof in this: for if some Muslims contradict the Shari'ah of Allah, there is no proof in that for abandoning Allah's pure Shari'ah. Rather it becomes necessary to rebuke those who opposed the Shari'ah and warn them from their behavior, but not to consider their action that opposes the Shari'ah to be a proof. Many scholars have differed with the pure Shari'ah, in many issues, either because of being ignorant of the evidences, or for other reasons. So it is not allowed to use their allowance of what contradicts what is known from the Shari'ah while they do not accept that. In most cases they would themselves be excused since the Shari'ah ruling has not been conveyed to them, or it has reached them through a means that is not confirmed according to them, or for some other excuse. This has been elaborated upon by Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, in his beneficial book, Rafa Al-Malam 'an Al-A'immat Al-'Alam, in which he clearly explains the different excuses for the people of knowl- edge in cases where they differ from the Shari'ah, so one should refer to that since it is indeed very beneficial for one seeking the truth.

So my advice to the author, Hamad, is to fear Allah Almighty and not to slander those who grow their beards. I also advise him to think well of his brother Muslims, those who strive to adhere to the Shari'ah and those who strive to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah in saying and in action, and that you hold them in the best esteem, according to the saying of Allah Almighty in Surat A-Hujurat:
"O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed wrongdoers."

Allah said:
"Nor defame one another."

Which means do not to find fault with one another. Then Allâh Almighty says:
"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins".

Allah Almighty ordered us to stay far away from many suspicions, suspicions that there is no evidence for, and which the Shari'ah does not instruct. This is what is confirmed in the Two Sahihs from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet ﷺ:
"Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest speech."

All of this does not mean that we should avoid advising scholars who err; rather, we must advise them to what is good and right, with good manners and an appropriate approach, not with harshness, suspicion, and bad manners. This latter approach makes the truth seem more distasteful than palatable, which is why, when Allah Almighty sent His Messengers Musa and Harun to Fir'awn the worst disbeliever of his time He Almighty said:
"And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear Allah."

In the following verse, Allâh Almighty commended the Prophet ﷺ for his approach in calling others to the truth, and in the one after that, He describes to the Prophet ﷺ how he should invite others to the truth:
"And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you."

Allah Almighty ordered him to invite to the way of his Lord with wisdom and fair preaching. Allah Almighty said:
"Invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching,and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His path, and He is Best Aware of those who are guided."

This order, though, is not limited to the Prophet ﷺ: it is addressed to all scholars and every caller who invites to the truth. Allah's orders to the Prophet are also orders for every Muslim, unless in a specific case there is evidence to the contrary. Allah Almighty says:
"Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow."

And:
"So those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur'an) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful."

And:
"And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajirin (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirin) and also those who followed them exactly (in faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success."

In an authentic Hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said :
"Whoever is deprived of gentleness, he is deprived of all good. "

He ﷺ also said:
"Whenever gentleness is present in something, it beautifies it; when gentleness is removed from something, that thing is marred."

In another narration he said:
"Indeed, Allah Almighty gives through gentleness that which he does not give through harshness."

Many Hadiths prove that it is obligatory for those who invite others to Allâh Almighty, and give advice to His worshippers, that they use the best approach and speech, without causing an aversion to the truth. We do, after all, wish that as a result of our efforts, others will accept the truth, and not reject it because of our harshness.

I ask Allâh Almighty to guide all us and all of the Muslims to understanding His religion, to make us firm upon it, and to make us invite to it with insight, and that He protect us and the rest of the Muslims from the evil of ourselves, the mischief of our deeds, and from saying about Allâh Almighty and His Messenger ﷺ what we have no knowledge of. Indeed Allâh is capable of this and may He grant peace and blessings to Muhammad, his family, and his Companions and whoever is guided until the Day of Judgement.