The Ruling on Shaving [Trimming Short] the Moustache

Question :

What is the definition of the moustache in Islam, because we have heard from some scholars that shortening the moustache is an innovation and that it disfigures the hair, while Ibn Al-Qayyim - may Allah have mercy on him held in Zadul-Ma'ad that shortening the moustache is better than merely removing the excess from the upper lip. So which is preferable and more correct?

It has been authentically reported in the Two Sahihs on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet that he said:
"Be different from the polytheists, and grow your beards and shorten your moustaches.

And in Sahih Muslim it is reported on the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: "A time limit was set for us regarding clipping the moustache, clipping the nails, plucking the hair from the armpits and shaving the pubic area - that they not be left for more than forty days."

In Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, it is reported that he said:

Allah's Messenger said:
"Pare your moustaches and leave your beards, differ from the Zoroastrians.

At-Tirmithi narrated from the Hadith of Zaid bin Al-Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah said:
"Whoever did not remove some of his moustache is not one of us.

- and he said: "It is an authentic Hadith."

Ibn 'Abdul-Barr said: "Al-Hasan bin Salih reported from Sammak bin Harb, from 'Ikrimah, from Ibn 'Abbas, that the Messenger of Allah used to clip his moustache and he mentioned that Ibrahim used to clip his moustache."

Ibn Al-Qayyim said: "A number of them report it from saying Ibn 'Abbas only. These are the proofs, some of which show an order to trim the moustache, and some of which show the order to shorten it..."

What is legislated is a choice in that matter. We do not consider it allowed to say that shortening the moustache is a form of mutilation and an innovation, since this contradicts the aforementioned proofs, and no consideration is given to the sayings of anyone besides the authentic Sunnah from the Messenger of Allah.

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