How Do You Trim the Sides of the Beard?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I am currently quite bothered with the question of the beard. I understand it can’t be cut less than a fistful below the chin. However, I don’t understand the sides of the beard. I placed my fist on my cheeks and thought there was no way we had to grow it that long as it would look untidy.

Please could you provide me with some scholarly opinions?

Answer

I pray you are well.

The beard is a simple issue. Having a fistful beard is a sunna. [Haskafi, al-Durr al-Mukhtar]

The beard is the hair that grows off the jawbone (lahyayn); therefore, having a fistful growing from the cheeks is not required.

The Beard Length

According to the Hanafi school, it is a wajib to have a beard, but the fistful length is a sunna, as mentioned above. Many of the scholars affiliated with the Indo-Pak Hanafis hold a fistful to be wajib.

One of the best analyses of this issue was done by the late Pakistani scholar, Mufti Ghulam Rasul Sa’idi, in which he concluded the position of a fistful being a sunna based on the texts of the Hanafi school. He even addressed the objections the opposition made and presented strong arguments for his position. I’ve not seen any convincing arguments from those who differ from him, but they could be out there. [Sa‘idi, Sharh Sahih Muslim]

Following the Sunna

Having a beard a fistful in length is great with the intention of following the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace. One will surely be rewarded for this. There are other, more emphasized sunnas, too, which should not be ignored. Among them are the sunnas of good character and not arguing with people. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Clearly, I have only been sent to complete righteous character.” [Ahmad]

Don’t let this issue confuse you or draw you into debate. Try to work on your character, and that will benefit you a great deal in this life and the next.

Related: What is the Proper Length of the Beard?

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.