Should I Have a Beard If I Want to Have Long Hair?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question

I have heard many people say that you must have a beard if you want to grow a zulfa (having long hair). Is this a condition of growing a zulfa? What are the conditions of growing a zulfa and how to maintain it?

Answer

It is generally permissible to grow your hair to one of the lengths established from the prophetic practice. I’m unaware of any correlation between the permission of doing this and growing a full beard. Rather, you can grow your hair as you like, including doing so in the sunna manner.

It is soundly reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whosoever has hair, let him honour it.” [Abu Dawud, al-Sunan] Similarly, it is also reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Honour hair.” [al-Bazzar, al-Musnad]

Hence, whatever you decide to do, you should ensure that you look after your hair in a manner befitting somebody grateful for the blessing. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would oil and comb his blessed hair often; so anybody wishing to fulfil this particular sunna should strive to do so in a manner which corresponds to his noble practice.

[Kattani, Munyat al-Sa’il (62/64); Munawi, al-Taysir Sharh al-Jami’ al-Saghir]

Please also see: The Braids of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and: Disposing of Hair and Nails and: Are Women Allowed to Cut Their Hair? and: The Fiqh of Hair Dyes

And Allah Most High knows best.

wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.