The various excuses and rule for shaving the beard
- Some people argue that the Qur’an is silent on the issue of
the beard. They ask naively:
“Where is the order of the beard mentioned in the Qur’an?” In reply, I ask “Where is it stated in
the Qur’an that one should act only upon that which is in the Qur’an and
not accept the teachings of Rasulullah
?” The Qur’an is clear: - Some people ask: "Is Islam confined to the beard only?"
Yes, Islam exists in each and every practice of Deen. Aside from the
faraaid and waajibat (compulsory and obligatory performances) which
occupy a very high position, Islam is found even in those tasks and actions
which belong to the category of the mustahab (preferable). The
beard is an important aspect of our Deen. It is the livery of Islam and
the insignia of a Muslim. why then should Islam not exist in it? In
fact, Islam exists in even the very act of answering the call of nature in
accordance to the sunnah! Whatever Rasulullah
had
uttered, taught or practically demonstrated are all Islam, whether it be in the
matter of eating, drinking or dressing oneself.
- This is certainly indeed a very strange argument for not
keeping a beard. Firstly, in every group of people, there are always
the good and bad elements. To look at only those who are evil and then
condemn the good and upright individuals is against logical reasoning.
If there are some people who keep beards merely to mislead others, then it
does not mean that nor it becomes permissible for everyone else to shave their
beards. Whatever Rasulullah
has ordered must be obeyed under all conditions. If some people keep
their beards to delude others, then keep your own beard with sincerity and
with the motive of obeying the Messenger of Allah
and following his sunnah. And with full courage and conviction
ask those who generalize. "If those who grow beards are deceitful, I
also have a beard. Do tell me, whom did I deceive and whose wealth did I
embezzle?" To maliciously condemn and label those who wear beards as
frauds and impostors while remaining steeped in the sin of shaving one's beard
will certainly not absolve one from being called to account in the hereafter.
Every person has to be concerned about his own Akhirah (life after
death). If some people who are regular with their salaah begin to
swindle others, does this mean that you will also stop performing your
salaah?
- Some people say, "The reformation of the heart, the purification
of the nafs (soul) and the cleansing of the soul are our first
priority." They argue that it does not matter if one does not keep a
beard, as long as one's heart is pure and clean.
This type of reasoning is the result of sheer ignorance. One whose heart is pure and clean will certainly be obedient to Allah and His Rasul
.
To remain persistent on sinning while the heart is pure and clean, and to
detest the noble appearance of Rasulullah
while at the same time the soul is pure and uncorrupted - this is no doubt an
inverted type of logic! - Some people say that although shaving the beard is a sin, it is
nevertheless only a minor sin.
In the first place, since intentionally omitting a waajib (compulsory order) amounts to a major sin, it is incorrect to say that shaving the beard is a minor sin in Islam. In any case, since when is it permissible to commit a minor sin? Hazrat Aaisha (R.A.A) reports that Rasulullah
said: "Refrain from even the sins which are regarded as trivial for
one will be accountable for even these sins before Allah Ta'ala." (Mishkaat
p.1458 from ibn Majah)It also should be understood that to persist in committing a minor sin transforms it into a major sin. In fact, so serious is the sin of shaving the beard that as long as one does not repent, one remains in a continuous state of sin. Other evil deeds are such that the person who commits them remains guilty only for as long as it takes to commit such sins. On the other hand, this is such a sin whose perpetrator is regarded as being in a perpetual state of sin. Such a person may be performing his salaah or his Hajj or he may be sleeping or eating and drinking, yet (whether he realizes it or not) he is all the time involved in the sin of not letting his beard grow. Day and night by shaving his beard, he is constantly renewing his sin.
- What type of argument is this? Just as you are a faasiq Muslim (i.e. one who sins openly), they are also faasiq Muslims. Had the actions and deeds of the Arabs or the Turks been a Shar'i proof or criterion, then such a statement would have been appropriate. However, the sources of legislation in Islam are the Qur'an and Hadith. Whoever will act in conflict with these becomes a faasiq, regardless of whether such a person is Arab or non-Arab, since all are viewed equally in the sight of Allah.
- Some people who seek to justify their actions, hide under the cover of the
views and practices of the Ulema of Egypt, arguing that they shave their
beards even though they are Ulema. Everyone knows that the opinion and
practices of any person which clash with the definite instructions of
Rasulullah
are of no consequence whatsoever. In view of this, how could the
deeds and views of these so-called Ulema who have been swept away by the tide
of westernism could ever be considered a legal basis for Islamic evidence? As
you are, so are they! How true is the well-known maxim: "Those of a kind
incline towards others of the same kind." In Egypt, there are also great
many honourable people who are pious and fearful of Allah and who follow the
sunnah of Rasulullah
.
Why were you not so anxious to follow the example of these people?
Perhaps you should seriously consider examining the condition of your heart!
-
Another argument presented is that if Muslims do not shave their beards they will not be able to find employment in the government departments and as result remain excluded from occupying senior positions and posts in the upper echelons of the civil service.
In the first place, to perpetrate a sin for the sake of gaining employment and position, is certainly not permissible in Islam. It is mentioned in the Hadith:
"And a delay in the arrival of your sustenance should not induce you to seek it through the disobedience of Allah." (Mishkaat)
Moreover, the very basis of this argument is totally unsound. Look! The Sikhs keep beards, yet they find employment and are even successful in achieving very senior positions (in India etc.).
One of the presidents of India was a Sikh who used to keep a beard even while he was in office. The fact of the matter is that the person possessing the required skill and competence gets the job, We have also seen bearded people who are very successful engineers and doctors and who occupy very senior positions not only in Muslim countries, but also in non-Mulsim lands as well. But we should not lose sight of the fact that the world is daarul asbaab (a place of adopting the means). Whoever is fortunate enough either through somebody's recommendation or influence or any other means gets the job. The clean-shaven person is left without the job while the person with a long beard is awarded a very senior position. And most important of all, the decision finally boils down to whatever as been decreed by Allah Ta'ala. Therefore, to shave one's beard and fall into sin as long as one is alive and die in this state certainly does not make any sense at all.
-
Some naive and ignorant people claim that Rasulullah
had kept a beard merely because it was part of the custom of the Arabs of
those days and in keeping with the practice of his own family and tribe.
Today, shaving of the beard is the order of the day Had Rasulullah been
alive today, he would have also shaved his beard. (Allah forbid!) These
wickedly sacrilegious people do not even have an iota of shame uttering such
drivel. They are totally ignorant of the fact that Rasulullah
was ordered by Allah to follow the way of Ibrahim (Alyah-salam). Allah
says: "So we inspired you (O Muhammad saying) follow the ways of Ibrahim, the
true in faith." (6:123)
The Arab people were from the descendants of Ibrahim (A.S). Even though many practices were in vogue among them, from these whichever remained from the teachings of Sayyidna Ibrahim (A.S.) were perpetuated by our Nabi
,
for this very reason i.e. for being part of the deen of Ibrahim (A.S.) (and
not because of being a part of the tradition of the Arabs). The Arabs
used to bury their daughters alive, relieve themselves in full view of others
without properly covering themselves, braid their beards, make tawaaf
(circumambulate) naked around the Ka'bah, indulge in gambling and drinking of
wine. While on the one hand our Nabi
nullified all these evil practices and vehemently prohibited his Ummah from
being involved in any of them, he declared the lengthening of the beard, the
clipping of the moustache and the paring of the nails as sunanul fitrah
(i.e. practices demanded by human nature). (Reference there is made to the
Hadith)"Ten things are part of the human nature of man." (Sahih Muslim and Abu Dawud)
What this actually means is that these are the characteristics which from the basis of perfect human disposition, and which the Prophets of Allah (A.S) had selected from themselves, and Ibrahim (A.S), too, was one of these noble Prophets of Allah. Had Rasulullah
adopted the ways of his people and nation, where was the need then for all the
conflict and dispute? What caused his own people then to become hit
bitterest enemies and why would he have been forced to flee Makkah and migrate
to Madinah? The illustrious Ambiyaa (A.S.) were sent for the purpose of
reforming their people and to teach them noble character and virtuous deeds,
and certainly not to follow in their footsteps by joining in their customary
ways and practices. - There is yet another group of people who, despite knowing that it is Haraam to
shave their beards, do so claiming that if they were keep beards, they will
fall from the esteem of people and not be looked upon with the eyes of
respect.
Allah! Allah! Do they despise the blessed from and appearance of their Rasul
merely to gain respect in the sight of the kuffar? Respect and
honor is only for those people who are honorable in the sight of Allah Ta'ala.
The kuffar are despised by Allah and they will be entered into Jahannam
to face the severest punishment and disgrace.To crave after respect in the eyes of these disgraceful people and to choose an outer appearance that is opposed to that of the noblest and most honorable of people, past and present, is very foolish indeed. Allah Ta'ala says in Surah Nisa:
"Do they seek honor from them? Verily all honor (and glory) belongs to Allah."
(And in Surah Munafiqoon, Allah declares:)
"But all respect (and honor) belong only to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad) and all those who have Imaan (faith).
But the hypocrites do not know." (63:8)
Then for how long will you continue appeasing and gratifying the kuffar (disbelievers). They will never be happy with us for being on Islam. Will you even forsake your Imaan in order to please them? Allah forbid! In Surah Baqarah, Allah Ta'ala very clearly spells out this fact:
...وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ
"Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you till you follow their religion" (2:120)
What type Imaan demands that we think pleasing the kuffaar who are destined to eneter Jahannam and perform those deeds which displease Allah and His Messanger Rasulullah
?
Think about it seriously! When the kuffar are not even ashamed of
their kufr which will ultimately land them in Jahannam, why should we
then be ashamed of our Imaan and A'amaal Saaliha (virtuous deeds)?(Hazrat Umar (R.A) has said: "Allah Ta'ala has granted us honor and respect through Islam. If we search for respectability in anything besides that with which Allah has dignified us, Allah will disgrace us.")
The condition of our people is such that they are the victims of an lowliness complex that makes them dreadfully ashamed of appearing with a beard in front of their colleagues at work (in office etc.) as well as in the company of those with whom they regularly associate for fear of being hated and despised by these people. They shave their beards in order to please them without even for a moment considering the disgrace that this will bring to them on the plains of Mahshar (resurrection). Just to save themselves from losing their "esteem" in the eyes of the people of the world, the blatantly violate the law of Shariah. For one to allow oneself to think nothing about displeasing Allah and His Rasul
and simply to carry favor with such people who will not even pay one for
shaving one's beard for even one day is downright foolishness! What is
the position of man, the created being that in order to please him one
displeases the Creator of the Universe? For Allah's sake please open
your eyes! Do not forsake your manhood and become so effeminate.
Do refrain from making statements in justification of a wrong which, according to the Hadith invites the wrath and curses of Allah. (As narrated in Sahih Bukhari)
أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ
“Obey Allah and obey the Rasul!” (Surah Nissa: 59)
which includes the obedience to the Rasul of Allah
.
Then, in Surah Nissa, Allah says: “Whoever obeys the Messenger (of Allah), has indeed obeyed Allah.” If you believe in the Qur’an as is, then keep the beard and act upon the instructions of the Qur’an. The truth of the matter is that those who raise such objections are so grossly ignorant that they hardly even know the grammatical form or case of the Arabic word “Qur’an” itself.
Moreover, nowhere in the Qur’an has
it been mentioned that four rakaats are fard
(compulsory) in the Zuhr salaah. This has been shown and explained to us by
Rasulullah. To
accept some of the instructions of Rasulullahand reject his other teachings by claiming that they are not to be found in the Qur’an amounts to a mockery of Islam and pure heresy.
Moreover, it is ironical that those in search of a direct mention of the order of the beard in the Qur’an, hardly ever act upon the clear and unambiguous injunctions of the
Qur’an. They are seldom regular with their fard salah, hardly ever pay their zakaah, nor exercise any
control over their passions and gazes.
They do not abstain from interest-related dealings nor do they desist from
Haraam (unlawful) earnings, yet only when it concerns the beard do they require
a direct order of the Qur’an. Look at
how the Shaytaan has trained and beguiled them!
Source: “The Beard. A Hallmark of Imaan” by Mufti Muhammad Aashiq Ilahi Buland-Shahri (R.A). Translated by Mulanan Shuaib Ahmad.