Due to studies and GUPSHUP, i havent been able to find time for myself. As a result, I’ve grown a pahadi bakra type beard. Most of my friends are of the opinion that I look rather silly in my new beard. But one of my maulvi friend says that shaving a beard is a grave sin and I shouldn’t have kept one in the first place if I didn’t want it.
So to shave or not to shave, thats the question…
(I would be glad if you could quote some references concerning the keeping of beard)
“Only two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity.” I am not quite sure of the universe…
What I never seem to understand why is shaving your beard a grave sin? I mean to grow a beard it is SUNNAH not FARD but since its sunnah then why is deemed once its grown it becomes a FARD to keep it?
Can someone answer me this instead of posting reference after reference. If you really do feel like posting references then explain what does it mean and why? I don't like reading all hadiths without any explanation.
I believe shaving off a beard when you have one is not grave sin. But sure is discouraged in Islam.
First you have to understand that when you grow a beard, for Allah, then you are in a way submitting to Him! And after that if you shave it off, cos you don't look good, your boss tells you to, or any lame reason as such, then it will be symbolizing that you are giving something else precedence over God.
In your case, as you didn't grow one for Allah in the first place, shaving it off wouldn't be a problem.
I had a full beard but due to sensitive dry skin & extreme dandruff, I had my face full of dermatitis. Treated it for a year or so but doctors insisted the dermatitis will keep coming back unless I shave the whole thing off. I didn't, only have a goatee now.
I follow the opinion that keeping the beard is a mandoub (recommended)action but it all depends on which opinion you follow. There are friends of mine who say the it is mubah (permissible). Most of us are 'Ammi on this issue.
btw, there is a lot of reward for a mandoub action and there is no sin in leaving it. There is reward for doing a mubah action and there is also reward for leaving it but only if at the time of the action you are thinking that Allah has given you permission to do the action and not to do the action.
Beatle, everybody seems to have answered yur question based upon their own knowledge, but what you also have to consider is this:
Every knowledgeable person that I have come across held the opinion that it is a sin to shave the beard.
If not one or two but a lot of scholars say this, than there must be a reason for them saying this, don’t you agree?
However, from the quote above I discern that you never intended to keep a beard but have just grown one out of neglect. If that is the case then I think the rules regarding a beard simply do not apply to you.
Regarding the beard itself, although not a fardh, it is more than just a sunnah, i.e. it is a recommended action. So regardless of the sin in shaving or not, you might want to keep it.
I was under the impression that beard in muslim was Sunnah NOT farz or
cutting was HARAM.
And for hadith ,some sect or groups dont follow all the Hadith.I would
think ,such issues of Halal meat,Beard,are practiced variably buy ppl.
claiming Shaafi,Hanafi,Hummbali,Maaliki,wahabi eytc
I just class them into
I/Ultra Orthodox -jehadi,mhajiroun,unyielding,inflexible ,non
compromising,brittle,blacvk & white dense,too literally meaning,not
seeing the intentbut just the practice.
II/Middle -like me
III/Too Liberal ---Movie & show business
muslims-nurjehan,vaneeza,hadiqa,
"jo kHat main kahte they apni jaan mujhko
aaj kHat likhne main unki jaan jaati hai .....