The Position Of The Beard In Islaam

By al-’Allaamah Badee’ud-Deen Shaah ar-Raashidee as-Sindee

All praise is for Allaah, Lord of the Worlds; and prayers and peace be upon the Master of the Prophets and Messengers, and his household, family and companions; whomsoever follows them with goodness until the Day of Recompense. To Proceed:

Allaah the Mighty and Majestic has made the figure of the human being very well and pleasing.  As He said,

“We have certainly created the human being in the best of moulds.” [Sooratut-Teen 95:4] [1]

It is proven that man’s figure is very well and pleasing.  And Allaah the Mighty and Majestic has created humans in pairs, for external distinction in both (i.e. male and female).  He made the man having a beard, with which beauty and dignity augments.  Such that, it is a crown of a man’s face.  Hence, it is generally observed that for each and every madhhab (mode of life, religion, ideology, etc.), be it Muslim or non-Muslim, the chieftain is bearded.  Such that, man naturally considers the beard to be a source of honor.  [That is so] because this is a divide hue (frame: religion), in comparison to which, there is no other hue,

“Our religion is the religion of Allaah.  And who can give a better religion than Allaah? And we are His worshippers.” [Sooratul-Baqarah 2:138]

So long as the mentality of the Muslims was secure from the hue of the polytheists, and the Jews and the Christians and their like, both, whether man or woman, considered the beard to be an adornment and beauty for the man.  Accordingly, Ibn Batootah in his travelogue entitled, Tuhfatun-Nazaar fee ’Ajaa‘ibil-Asfaar (1/17) records an occurrence which goes as follows:  Shaykh Jamaalud-Deen Saawee was a very handsome person.  Hence, o­ne woman was infatuated with him, and through some type of pretense, called in to her house.  After entering she had the doors closed. Then she called the Shaykh towards her for evil (fornication).  The Shaykh tried his best to escape.  However, when he did not find any means of escape, he first decided to go to the toilet and after entering, he took a blade and shaved his beard with it.  When he came out, the woman found his face to be so hideous that she was disgusted with him.  Thus he came out safe and secure, escaping evil.

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