Quranic evidence:
Harun said to Musa: "O son of my mother, do not seize me by my beard or my head" (Ta-Ha 20:94) — some jurists cite this as evidence for the beard existence and against shaving it. Also: "The fitrah of Allah upon which He created people" (Ar-Rum 30:30) — the beard is part of this fitrah.
Prophetic evidence:
"Trim the moustache and let the beard grow" (agreed upon); "Differ from the polytheists" (Muslim). The command to let it grow implies it is obligatory to keep and prohibits shaving.
Scholarly positions on shaving:
- Hanafi, Maliki, Hanbali: Shaving the beard is forbidden — letting it grow is obligatory.
- Shafi: Leaving it is preferable — shaving is strongly disliked (close to forbidden) according to some.
- The recommended length: What exceeds a fistful may be trimmed according to the majority.
The beard and altering Allah creation:
Allah describes the whispers of Satan: "I will command them to alter the creation of Allah" (An-Nisa 4:119) — and shaving the beard is considered altering Allah creation.
Question: What are the Quranic and hadith proofs regarding the beard? What is the majority ruling on shaving it?
Answer: Quran: "the fitrah of Allah" (30:30) and An-Nisa 4:119 on altering creation. Hadith: "let the beards grow." The majority: shaving it is forbidden and growing it is obligatory.