Why Do Some Shafi‘i’s Not Grow Their Beards?
Shafi'i Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
I have been studying the Shafi‘i opinion on the beard. I read all the answers on SeekersGuidance on beards and know the majority position is that it’s unconditionally disliked to cut the beard less than a fist or more than a fist length, mainly from the chin.
How come most Shafi‘i scholars keep short beards, less than a fist length, even though Imam Nawawi opined that the beard should be left untouched and that it’s disliked to cut it and not sinful?
Is it because the Shafi‘i scholars focus less on beard length and other sunna acts? Or consider a short beard somewhat permissible despite being disliked by Imam Nawawi and Ibn Hajar al Haytami.
Is trimming a beard short (less than a fist length) if your profession or field allows you to keep the beard but asks you to trim it short, Mubah, or would it still be considered Makruh to trim a beard in this case in Shafi‘i School.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.
It is a generalization to say that most Shafi‘i scholars keep short beards. We cannot, nor should we, answer for the actions and choices of others. The Shafi‘i School’s position has been thoroughly clarified here.
It appears that you may need to have your definitions corrected. In the Shafi‘i School, makruh (disliked) is not the same as haram (prohibited) or makruh tahrimi (prohibitively disliked), and therefore, there is no sin incurred for doing makruh (disliked) actions, and Allah knows best. [Ansari, Lubb al-Usul]
Hopefully, a specific company rather than an entire field of work makes such demands. In which case, is it possible to find a place of employment that would allow you to practice the Sunna as you desire?
Regardless of who asks one to trim the beard, the ruling remains the same. Still, if one’s circumstances are constrained, doing a makruh (disliked action) does not entail sin, and Allah knows best.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
