The beard in Islam

[m2ariman]

I once read a post here: http://www.answering-christianity.com/growing_beards.htm

And I had to disagree with some of brother Osama's claim.

1) Some of the Sunnah are meant for the prophet's s.a.w time.
Give me at least 3 examples why this is the case.
I hold the believe that both the Qur'an and the Sunnah are for us mankind until the end of times.

One example in another post was the siwak/miswak. I'm still using it. My uncle and cousin uses it. So, it still can be use for all times.

2)Beard causes trouble for muslim brothers.

I keep the beard. No trouble for me. Besides, how does that makes sense?

The beard was meant to be like a uniform for the muslimin.

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I was taught that it was sunnat to keep beard until I read a post which says it's fardh.
There are plenty of videos which states that it's fardh too.

You should watch this video by abu mussab: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrRImg8ZLCk

That's not just one person who says that the beard is fardh. There are many more brothers(not sure if I should call them scholars). Yusuf Estes, Abdur Raheem Green, Zakir Naik, many more which I can't recall of right now.

another video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBQVoj5O6MQ

Arguments why it's fardh.

1) Rasulullah s.a.w says to be different from the musyriks. Trim the moustache and keep the beard.
2)It is part of fitrah(nature)
3)The people of Luth were destroyed for a few reasons. One of them is for shaving. Also, it is said that they were the first to shave.
4)A persian lord sent two reps(not sure what word was it) to meet the prophet s.a.w. The prophet disliked looking at their face because they keep their moustache and shave their beard.

*I'm quoting from memory

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So, my real question is, why do you think the beard is just sunnat and not fardh, when I feel that the evidence given for the beard to be fardh is overwhelming?

[Egyptian]

So, my real question is, why do you think the beard is just sunnat and not fardh, when I feel that the evidence given for the beard to be fardh is overwhelming?

I think it is a matter of choice , those who say that beard is obligatory have their argument and those who say that beard is not obligatory have their arguments too.....   you feel that the evidence given for the beard to be fardh is overwhelming ,but some other big scholars in past and present argue that shaving it is disliked ... eg:


from the past : Imam Al-Nawawi,Imam Al-Ghazali ,Qadi Ayyad ibn Musa ,Imam al-Khattabi,Imam Al-Bujairami ,Imam Khayr al-Din al-Ramli ,Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami  etc..........

from the present: Al-azhar grand Imams , Jadul Haq Ali ,Shaikh Mahmud Shaltut, besides other eminent scholars as  Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Imam Muhammad Abu Zahra ,Sheikh 'Sayyid Sabiq ,Sheikh 'Abdullah al-Judai ,etc

[Antiaparteid]

Muslim men must keep a beard because (muslim men's) looking into a beardless face gives them homosexual, and pedophilic desires. So, if you don't want other muslim men desiring you, you should keep your beard.

[Egyptian]

Muslim men must keep a beard because (muslim men's) looking into a beardless face gives them homosexual, and pedophilic desires.

Antiparteid , why do you insist on making unnecessary,stupid, offensive,off-topic comments like that ?!

when will you ever grow up?!

[Final Overture]

Muslim men must keep a beard because (muslim men's) looking into a beardless face gives them homosexual, and pedophilic desires. So, if you don't want other muslim men desiring you, you should keep your beard.

Hypocrites are hypocrites.

[Antiaparteid]

Just google "beardless boy islam". Ever heard of "bacha bareech"?

I didn't mean to offend.

[Final Overture]

Just google "beardless boy islam". Ever heard of "bacha bareech"?

I didn't mean to offend.

Ever heard of "Subconscious Mind"?

[RamziBinNabil]

The beard is not a must. If so, the Prophet (may Almighty Allâh bless him and grant him peace) would have stated it to be obligatory and ordered the clean-shaven men to grow their beards. Islam supports freewill and ease, not force and difficulty. Of course, it is much better if one grows his beard but it is not obligatory as far as my concern.

[thaha]

I don't know Osama's thoughts are correct or not?..But we can't avoid the fact that how the 4 Imams (Shafi (Ra), Hanafi (Ra), Maliki (Ra) and Hambal (Ra) respond the subject about Beard in Islam.They are unitedly agreed it is must in Islam.And I heard from Bilal Philip's one speech, in the era of prophet ,court didn't take the words from the muslim witness if they don't have beard.

And one more doubt in mind, which yardstick you are using for it.Because you are saying peoples misunderstand due to beard. Then why in case of Shari'a law.It also criticising  by west. Which yard stick using for distinguish the hadiths?

[Egyptian]

I don't know Osama's thoughts are correct or not?..But we can't avoid the fact that how the 4 Imams (Shafi (Ra), Hanafi (Ra), Maliki (Ra) and Hambal (Ra) respond the subject about Beard in Islam.They are unitedly agreed it is must in Islam.

that is incorrect ,consult a book in shafi madhab to know that it is recommended ,and not obligatory.

peace

[RamziBinNabil]

It is obligatory. Sorry, I have made a mistake.

[zulfiqarchucknorris]

It is not obligatory,
http://islamicsystem.blogspot.com/2007/06/fiqh-of-growing-and-shaving-beard.html
also Osama Abdullah has also written an article, but it think the one above is better.
Pls reply to my posts.

[RamziBinNabil]

It is. I was mistaken. Antiaparteid, Prophet Muhammad (may Almighty Allah bless him and grant him peace) never said, "O men of my Ummah! Grow your beards lest you turn homosexual and have feelings for one another." He (may Almighty Allah bless him and grant him peace) ordered us to do so to be against the polytheists. He wanted to wipe out every trace of polytheism and orded his followers to go against them in their traits. If you won't say something good (or at least something logical), then keep quiet. Zulfiqar, it is a Wajib. I researched it. Almighty Allah knows best, but from what I discovered, it was a Wajib.

[zulfiqarchucknorris]

Actually there are 3 opinions on the beard
1) Growing the beard is an obligation and shaving it is forbidden. This opinion is championed by Ibn Hazm and Ibn Taimiya among others.
2) Growing the beard in mandub (desirable) and shaving it is makruh (undesirable). This opinion is championed by Ibn Hanbal, Ibn Qudamah, Imam Shirazi, Imam Shawkhani, Imam Nawawi and Qadi (judge) Iyad among others.
3) Growing and shaving the beard is mubah (permitted), which is the opinion of Qadi Abu Bakr Ibn al-Arabi and Imam Qurtabi.
The second opinion is believed by most scholars, especially modern scholars, after the t and its the one i believe, God knows best though.
The prophet said , “In our deen, we trim the moustache and we let the beard grow,”  this does not imply the obligation because in our deen, there is wajib, mandub, makruh, haram and mubah. I also researched it and come up with this conclusion. The article i posted gives islamic insight on why shaving is allowed but not desired, but growing it gives you a great reward.

[zulfiqarchucknorris]

Peace
Another great article about why the beard is Desirable and nor fardh is written by answering Christianity's own Kevin Abdullah Kareem
it is a word document, here is the link.
God know best
Peace