Do I have to grow a beard?
What the Prophet ﷺ said, what scholars say, and what to do if your beard will not grow.
Your father has a beard. Your boss likes a clean shave. And someone online just told you that shaving is a sin.
So do you have to grow a beard in Islam? Here is what the Prophet ﷺ said, and what scholars say about it.
What did the Prophet ﷺ say about the beard?
He told men to trim the mustache and let the beard grow. He said it more than once.
He also named letting the beard grow as one of ten things that are part of the fitrah, the natural way Allah made us. Cutting your nails and cleaning your teeth are on the same list.
His own beard was thick and full.
Is it a must, or a sunnah?
Scholars have two views.
Most scholars say it is a must, and shaving it off is a sin. This is the view of the Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali schools. Their reason is that the Prophet ﷺ said it as a command.
Many Shafi'i scholars, like an-Nawawi, say it is a strong sunnah. You get reward for keeping it. Shaving it is disliked, but it is not a sin.
Follow the scholar you trust. And do not call someone who follows the other view a bad Muslim.
Can I trim my beard?
Most scholars say yes. Ibn Umar, the companion who reported this hadith, used to hold his beard in his fist and cut whatever was longer than that.
So many scholars say you can trim what is longer than a fist. The real disagreement is about shaving it off completely.
What if my beard does not grow?
Then you have nothing to worry about. You are only asked to leave what Allah gave you. If your beard is thin or patchy, leave what grows. That is enough.
Allah does not ask anyone to carry more than they can. And the Prophet ﷺ said Allah does not look at your face or your body. He looks at your heart and your actions.
What if my job wants me clean shaven?
Ask your manager or HR first. Do not assume the answer is no before you ask.
The Prophet ﷺ said: when I tell you to do something, do as much of it as you can. If it still does not work out, talk to a scholar who knows your situation.
How should I treat a brother who shaves?
With respect, like any other brother. Allah tells us not to mock other people, because they may be better than us.
You cannot see a man's faith on his face. If you want to encourage him, do it once, kindly and in private.
What to do
- Read the hadith about the beard for yourself.
- If your beard grows, try keeping it for a few months.
- If work is a problem, ask before you assume it is not allowed.
- Keep your beard clean and neat.
What not to do
- Do not call a man who shaves a sinner to his face.
- Do not call a man with a long beard extreme.
- Do not feel like less of a Muslim if your beard grows thin.
- Do not judge someone's faith by their beard.
One last thing
The Prophet ﷺ named ten things that are part of the fitrah. This week, pick one of them that you have been skipping. For some men it is the beard. For others it is cutting their nails on time. Start with that one.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 5893; Sahih Muslim 259; Sahih al-Bukhari 5892; Sahih Muslim 260; Sahih Muslim 261; Sahih Muslim 2344; Sunan an-Nasa'i 5232; Quran 2:286; Sahih Muslim 2564; Sahih al-Bukhari 7288; Quran 49:11; an-Nawawi, al-Majmu' (the views of the schools)
SM
These are my own opinions, based on what I have seen and what I have been through. It is completely fine for you to see it differently. If you want to talk about anything in this post, write to me at salam@sunnahdaily.com.
For a ruling on your own situation, please speak to a qualified local scholar. You are welcome to email me about it as well, and I will help if I can, or point you to someone who can.