The Beard and Moustache in the Light of the Sunnah

It is reported from Abdullah bin Umar radhiallahu anhu that Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Oppose the Mushrikeen (idol-worshippers); keep full beards and clip the moustache.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
From this hadith we learn that a) It was the practice of idol-worshippers to shorten the beard and lengthen the moustache; b) we are commanded by Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam to oppose this practice of the idolaters by doing the exact opposite: keep the beard in full and shorten the moustache.


Another hadith in Bukhari and Muslim states: “Shorten the moustache and lengthen the beard.”
Abu Huraira radhiallahu anhu reports that Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: “The People of the Book lengthen their moustaches and shorten their beards, so oppose them: lengthen the beards and shorten the moustaches.” (Narrated by Imam Bazzar).
From the above it is very clear that a practice of the Jews and Christians in those days and even today was not to shave the beard, but rather to shorten it. Nowadays it is fashionable for Muslims to keep a trimmed, short beard. Ponder over the implications of this practice in the light of the above hadith.

One hadith describes the shortening of the beard and lengthening of the moustache as a practice of the fire-worshippers, as narrated by Imam Muslim.
Once an emissary of the Chosroe (Persian Emperor) came into the presence of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The man was clean shaven and had a bushy moustache. The Messenger of Allah turned his face away (in disgust) and said to him: “Woe betide you! Who told you to adopt this appearance?” The man replied: “My Lord” (meaning the Persian Emperor)” The Messenger of Allah then said: “Well, My Lord has commanded me to keep a full beard and shorten the moustache.”

Hazrat Ayesha (radhiyallahu anhaa) reports that Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Ten practices belong to fitrah (the culture on which Allah created man), and these are: Trimming the moustache, allowing the beard to grow fully, using the miswak, rinsing the mouth, rinsing the nose, clipping the nails, washing the joints of the body, plucking the hair under the armpit, shaving pubic hair, and washing in the toilet.” (Narrated by Imam Muslim. Ahmad, Nasaa-ee and Tirmizhi)
Umar bin Abdul Azeez, the great Muslim leader of the second century (died 101 AH) states: Shaving the beard is mutilation of the face, which Rasoolullah r undoubtedly prohibited. Imam Tabrani narrates the following hadith: “He who mutilates bodily hair has absolutely no share (of reward) by Allah.”

The above narrations are from the Arabic book Proofs on the prohibition of shaving the beard by Muhammed bin Ahmad bin Ismail.(Kuwait)