Statements of the Imaams on the Forbiddance of Shaving the Beard

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Statements of the Imaams on the Forbiddance of Shaving the Beard

AUTHOR: ‘Alee Hasan Al-Halabee
SOURCE: Hukm-ud-Deen fil-Lihyaa wat-Tadkheen (pg. 29-32)
PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com

The majority of the scholars of Fiqh have asserted the forbiddance of shaving the beard. Some of them have stated that it is makrooh (disliked), however this ruling would be applied many times by them to forbidden things. This is because the people (scholars) of the past would designate the term makrooh (disliked) for Haraam (unlawful), as has been transmitted from them in the books of Usool-ul-Fiqh (The Principles of Jurisprudence). [1]

1. The great scholar, Ibn Hazm Al-Andalusee said: “They – i.e. the Imaams – have unanimously agreed that shaving the beard is disfiguring (of Allaah’s creation) and it is not permissible.” [2]

2. Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah said: “Shaving the beard is unlawful (Haraam).” [3]

3. Ibn ‘Aabideen, from the notables amongst the Hanafee scholars – said: “It is forbidden for the man to cut his beard – i.e. to shave it.” [4]

4. Al-‘Adawee, one of the elite among the Maalikee scholars, said: “It has been quoted from Maalik that he considered it makrooh (disliked) to shave what was below the palate, such that he said: ‘It is from the actions of the Majoos (fire-worshippers)…likewise it is forbidden to stop the growth of the beard.” [5]

Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr said in At-Tamheed: “It is forbidden to shave the beard. And no one does it except for those effeminate ones amongst the men.” [6]

5. Shaikh Ahmad bin Qaasim Al-‘Ibaadee, one of the prestigious Shaafi’ee scholars, said: “Ibn Ar-Rif’ah said in Haashiyat-ul-Kaafiyah: ‘Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee stated in (his book) Al-Umm that it is forbidden to shave the beard. Likewise, Az-Zarkashee, Al-Hulaymee in Shu’ab-ul-Eemaan, and his teacher, Al-Qaffaal Ash-Shaashee in Mahaasin Ash-Sharee’ah, stated that it was forbidden to shave the beard.” [7]

6. As-Safaareenee, one of the notables amongst the Hanbalee scholars, said: “The view that is approved of and sanctioned in the (Hanbalee) madh-hab is: The forbiddance of shaving the beard.” [8]

7. Many of the contemporary scholars have ruled that shaving the beard is forbidden, such as:

‘Abdul-Jaleel ‘Eesaa, ‘Alee Mahfoodh, ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz, Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee, Muhammad Sultaan Al-Ma’soomee, Ahmad ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Al-Bannaa As-Sa’aatee (watch-repairer), Abu Bakr Al-Jazaa’iree, Al-Kandahlaawee, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Qaasim, Isma’eel Al-Ansaaree and many others.


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Footnotes:

[1] You must also see what the great scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim wrote in his book I’alaam-ul-Muwaqqi’een (1/39-43) and Badaa’i-ul-Fawaa’id (4/6).

[2] Maraatib al-Ijmaa’ (157); also see Al-Muhallaa (2/189)

[3] Al-Ikhtiyaaraat al-‘Ilmiyyah (pg. 6)

[4] Radd al-Muhtaar (3/418)

[5] Al-‘Adawee’s notes to Sharh Risaalah Ibn Abee Zayd (2/411); Also see Hukm-ul-Liyhah fil-Islaam of Shaikh Muhammad Al-Haamid (pg. 17)

[6] Adillatu Tahreem Halq-il-Lihyah (96)

[7] ibid.

[8] Ghadhaa-ul-Albaab