THE BEARD BETWEEN THE SALAF AND KHALAF pdf

The beard between the salaf and khalaf

THE BEARD BETWEEN THE SALAF AND KHALAF

The Arabic word for beard is lihyah. It derives from lahy (jaw) and lahyan (the two jaws).

Thus, a beard is defined as the hair that grows on the cheeks and jaws- [Al-Qamus ul-Muhit by alFayruzabadi, and Lisan ul-Arab by Ibn Manzur].

It includes the hair that grows on the temples, underneath the lower lip, the hair of the chin, and the hair that grows on the lower side of the jaws.

Ruling

Growing the beard is wajib (mandatory) for all males who are capable of doing so.

 As will be presented below, there is ample evidence for this in the Sunnah, and it is the unanimous opinion of the ‘ulama’ of Islam.

Position of the Scholars

All the ‘ulama’ (scholars) of as-Salaf us-Salih (the Righteous early Muslims), including the Four Imams, agree that shaving the beard is haram (prohibited).

They consider shaving it an impermissible mutilation, as has been reported from Umar Bin Abdul Aziz- [At-Tarikh by ibn Asakir],

They considered the man who shaved his beard effeminate. Many of them would not accept his testimony or allow him to lead the prayers.