Question:
assalamu-alikum
i need to know the sunnath of keeing beard,i am 15 years,and can i keep french beard?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
We commend your enthusiasm at a young age in learning the beloved Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alahi Wa Sallam). May Allah Ta’ala increase your interest and love for the Sunnah.
It is not permissible for one to trim the hair along the jawbone[1] unless it exceeds a fistful[2]. Ulama have mentioned that it is wajib (obligatory) to grow the beard at least at fists’ length. This is deduced this from the following Ahadith of the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam);
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 (صحيح البخاري، 7/ 73، الفكر)
The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) has mentioned: “Oppose the Polytheists; lengthen the beards and trim the mustaches.”
Imam Naafi’ (Rahmatullah Alayh) goes on to mention: “And Ibn Umar (RadhAllahu Anhu) during Hajj or Umrah would take hold of his beard with his fist and cut off what was in excess of that.”(Al Bukhari)
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ أَمَرَ بِإِحْفَاءِ الشَّوَارِبِ وَإِعْفَاءِ اللِّحْيَةِ .
Ibn Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) said:
The Apostle of Allah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) ordered us to trim the moustache closely and spare the beard. (Sahih Muslim 259)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ جُزُّوا الشَّوَارِبَ وَأَرْخُوا اللِّحَى خَالِفُوا الْمَجُوسَ ”
The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: Trim closely the moustache, and grow beard, and thus act against the fire-worshippers (Sahih Muslim 260)
It can thus be understood from the above that keeping a French beard would not be permissible, as it would entail trimming the beard below a fist’s length. The most important aspect of the beard is the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). We should strive to at least adopt the outer features of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and to make our faces resemble in some way the Mubaarak and blessed face of our beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). Consider the following verse:
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
Translation: There is definitely a beautiful (hasan) example in Allah’s Rasul (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). [33:21
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Arshad Ali
[1] An easy way to find out which part of the beard falls on the jawbone, is to open the mouth, then to feel along the beard. Wherever is hard, is the jawbone, while when you feel along the cheeks it is soft. This soft area may be trimmed.
[2] حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح (ص: 58)
واللحي منبت اللحية فوق عظم الأسنان لمن ليست له لحية كثيفة وفي حقه إلى ما لا قي البشرة من الوجه “وحده” أي الوجه “عرضا” بفتح العين مقابل الطول “ما بين شحمتا الأذنين”
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (2/ 193)
(قَوْلُهُ لَحْيَاهُ) تَثْنِيَةُ لَحْيٍ بِفَتْحِ اللَّامِ فِيهِمَا، وَهُوَ مَنْبَتُ اللِّحْيَةِ أَوْ الْعَظْمُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْأَسْنَانُ بَحْرٌ
