Question:
My question relates to shaving for men and is in 3 parts.
- Is shaving your facial hair on your chin and cheeks ḥaram?
- Am I sinning by not having a beard?
- Is having a beard a fard in Islam or a sunnah?
Answer:
Jazak Allah Khayr/ Thank you for your question.
Majority Islamic scholars of all schools of jurisprudence regard keeping some length of the beard as an emphasised prophetic practice (Sunnah muakkadah).
Ibn ‘Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) would keep his beard a fist length, trimming the excess. Thus, trimming some hair of the sunnah beard to ensure neatness is acceptable.
Completely shaving the facial hair on the chin and cheeks is considered contrary to the Prophetic practice, for men.
Ibn ‘Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) relates from the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) that he said,
“Do otherwise than those who ascribe partners to Allah; leave beards, and trim mustaches”. (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Whenever Ibn ‘Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) went on Ḥajj or ‘Umrah, he would grasp his beard with his hand, and remove what was in excess of it. (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
And Allah Knows Best
