Trimming the ends of one's beard

Q 3: Trimming the beard prevailed among the Multazims (practicing Muslims) youth, as you see them trimming the ends from time to time. Perhaps they belong to religious parties, thus they become an example for the common people to follow. They may rely on weak narrations or some sayings attributed to Ibn `Umar, as well as growing the beard until it reaches the length of the fist.

A: The Sahih (authentic) Hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) indicate the necessity of letting the beard grow as it is, in addition to prohibiting cutting, shortening or trimming it. In this regard, Al-Bukhari and Muslim related in their "Sahih (Authentic Hadith Book)" about Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard grow to be contradictory to the unbelievers. It is mentioned in another narration by Al-Bukhari: Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard grow to be contradictory to the unbelievers. Muslim related in his "Sahih" from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah is reported to have said: Trim closely the moustache, and grow beard, and thus act against the fire-worshippers. There are other authentic Hadiths in this respect, but the mentioned ones are enough In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills). The great scholar Abu Muhammad ibn Hazm is reported to have said: "The scholars agreed that (Part No. 11; Page No. 329) trimming closely the moustache and growing the beard are Fard (obligatory, based on a definitive text)".Moreover, the previous Hadiths indicate that it is obligatory to let the beard grow and it is unlawful to cut, shorten or trim it, as the principle in commands is the obligation and the principle in the prohibition is declaring something unlawful. It is not permissible to turn it away from its principle and form except by a valid evidence and proof that can be relied on. There is no evidence or proof against this command. Thus, every Muslim should obey the command and follow the pattern of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) because he had a thick beard, as it was authentically reported about him. It was not reported that any of his Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) - who are the best of all people - used to trim his beard, except what was done by `Abdullah ibn `Umar. He would trim the part of his beard that exceeds his fist at the time of Hajj. We can not rely on this act while we have authentic verified Hadiths. `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard grow to be contradictory to the unbelievers. (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). The principle of the evidence is the narration of the narrator not his acts or Ijtihad (juristic efforts to infer expert legal rulings). The scholars said that the authentic narration of the Sahabah and their successors about the Prophet (peace be upon him) is the supporting evidence, and it is more reliable than the narrator's opinion if his opinion contradicts the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet). In this case, we rely on his narration of the Sunnah but not on his act upon the Sunnah.As for the narration of Al-Tirmidhy that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) "used to trim the length and width of his beard", it is not only a weak Isnad (chain of narrators) of Hadith, (Part No. 11; Page No. 330) but it is also Batil (false) and rejected. This is not authentically known about the Prophet (peace be upon him). As this Hadith is related by `Umar ibn Harun Al-Balkhy, who is Matruk (a narrator whose Hadith transmission was discarded due to unreliability) and accused of lying, this Hadith cannot be taken as evidence. Thus, the acts of these youth should not be followed. However, they and all of the Muslims should obey the commands of the Prophet (peace be upon him), avoid disobeying him, or imitating the enemies of Allah and His Messenger and avoid imitating women. A human being should be a good pattern in his sayings and actions. It is necessary to advise those who breach the commands of Allah and His Messenger, and to urge them to obey Allah and His Messenger and to avoid what They prohibited.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.