Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

brother,could u let me know the importance of keeping beard by men,why it was ordered by the prophet(saw) and is it a kabira sin to shave ur beard? moreover in times when muslims are facing a lot of problems at the hands of non-muslims,getting a job even for a bearded person is difficult,what does islam say about such a situation,should one shave or not??? please let me know theanswers...

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Answer:

Importance of keeping a beard

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: brother,could u let me know the importance of keeping beard by men,why it was ordered by the prophet(saw)

Keeping a beard is not only the Sunnah of the Last Messenger of Allah (saws), but it is the Sunnah of the all the Prophets before him.

Growing a beard was considered normal and natural for a man at the time of the Messenger of Allah (saws), whether he was a believer or not. Even the enemies of Islam like Abu Jahl and Abu Lahb had beards! And because every man naturally grew a beard, it was not necessary for the Prophet (saws) to give an explicit command exhorting the believers to grow a beard.

The only specific command of the Prophet (saws) regarding the keeping of beards arose when he saw that the pagans used to grow both their beards and their mustaches long; thus he (saws) said to the believers:Do the opposite of what the pagans do. Lengthen your beards and cut the mustaches short.

It was only a couple of centuries ago, when the western culture and ideology became dominant over the world and muslim lands, that it became a fashion to be clean shaven. And as with any dominant culture, people are always ready to adopt its actions, whether they are of virtue, or of vice! But Islam has its own culture, and growing a beard is part of the Islamic culture.

Thus the keeping of beards is a Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) and every muslim must strive to keep a beard, if his model is indeed the Prophet of Allah (saws). He will get his due reward from Allah, Insha Allah, if he keeps the beard to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

But if a believer does not want to sport a beard for whatever reason, the other believers should not make an issue out of it. What is important in Islam and in the sight of Allah, is that one truly believes and does good righteous deeds. And when that happens, it is expected that the beard will follow soon after!

The beard is nothing more than a sign that the believer truly wants to follow a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). There are many people who have long beards, but do deeds against the commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws). And there are many people who are amongst the best believers, but do not have beards! Allah will not decide the recipient of His Mercy and His Forgiveness from the appearance of the individual; but rather He will decide whether the person believed and did righteous deeds, as he was commanded by Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Your Question: is it a kabira sin to shave ur beard?

The shaving of the beard is not amongst the list of ‘kabair’ or grave sins declared by Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Your Question: moreover in times when muslims are facing a lot of problems at the hands of non-muslims,getting a job even for a bearded person is difficult,what does islam say about such a situation,should one shave or not???

This is a question every individual will have to answer and decide for himself! If a person is strong in his ‘emaan’ and faith, and is willing to sacrifice some worldly benefit because he wants to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws); it is expected that Allah Subhanah will reward him generously for his intention and deed.

But if one is confident that Allah Subhanah will accept his excuse on the Day of Judgement, that the only reason he did not keep a beard was because he feared losing his job, then he may shave his beard!

This is a decision and choice every individual has to make himself according to his condition, and the condition of his ‘emaan’.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan