Posted By Veiled Muslimah on/at 2/15/2007 01:08:00 PM

Assalam Alaykum,

I feel that this topic isn't discussed enough and with all the discussions about Hijab - our Brothers' feel left out. The Brothers' too have their own struggles with the beard so i'm going to touch around it a bit.

Like the Hijab is the identity of a Muslim Woman [i.e- She is recognised as a Muslim] for a Man the beard to some extent does the same job.

Now there is a difference of opinion among the Ulema whether the Beard is fardh, wajib or mutahabb. I'm not going to delve into this a lot because of the differences of opinion. However, we all know for sure that the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam used to have a beard and therefore as Muslims we should follow the Prophet Sallalahu alayhi wassallam and hence the Men should grow their beards. [Not the Sisters'. :P ]

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day…” [al-Ahzaab 33:21]

“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).” [al-Hashr 59:7]


Now we will look at some of the evidence from the Quran and Sunnah concerning the beard:

Imaam Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim and others narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Be different from the mushrikeen: let your beards grow and trim your moutsaches.”

Ahmad and Muslim reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Cut your moustaches and let your beards grow: be different from the Magians.”

It is proven that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Ten things are part of the fitrah: cutting the moustache, letting the beard grow, cleaning the teeth with a siwaak, rinsing the nose with water, cutting one’s nails, washing between the finger-joints, plucking the armpit hairs, shaving the pubic hair and cleaning one’s private parts with water.” (Reported by Ahmad, Muslim and the four authors of Sunan, from the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her).

All the `ulamaa of as-Salaf, including the Four Imams, agreed that shaving the beard is haram (prohibited). They considered shaving it an impermissible mutilation. They used to consider the person who shaved his beard effeminate. Many of them would not accept his witness or allow him to lead the prayers.

These days, a lot of Brothers' are ignorant about the ruling of the beard. A lot of them don't grow it because they think it won't 'look good' or that maybe the opposite gender won't find it attractive and other reasons include not getting good jobs or being labelled as 'extremists' or 'terrorists' or being made fun off. And last but not the least - family pressure. Especially if the family or Parents' arn't practicing and they feel their son shouldn't be keeping a beard because to them it doesn't look nice and 'Oh dear - what will everybody else think?'.

Firstly, we need to ask ourselves, who do we want to please more? Allah subhanna wa taála or the people of the dunya? Brothers, if you get mocked about your beard, ignore the people who mock you. Sadly, in todays world some ignorant Muslims themselves mock other Muslims. Be it Hijab or the Beard or other things which make our Muslim Identity. They don't realise that they are mocking the practice of the Prophet Sallalahu alayhi wasallam.

Allah subhanna wa taálah says in the Qurán concerning this:

“Say: ‘Was it at Allaah, and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking?’ Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed”

[al-Tawbah 9:65-66]
The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, the four rightly guided Caliphs and all the Companions of the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam had beards. These Men should be the ones we should emulate. These Men should be our role-models. Not People from the kuffar like Justin Timberlake or Brad Pitt. For the Women, our role models should be Aáisha bint Abu Bakr radi allahu anh, Hafsah, Juwairiyah bint al-harith, Umm Habiba, Umm Salamah and others among the Mothers of the Believers. These People were truly righteous and People of strength and Imaan. May Allah subhanna wa taála make us like them. Ameen.

Abdullah Ibn Umar (R.A.) relates that: "He who imitates the kuffar (non-believers) and dies in that state, he will be raised up with them on the Day of Qiyamat (Judgement)."

"O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be gathered." (Quran 8:24)

In my honest opinion, a Man with a beard looks more manly and humble then one without [And dare i say - to a certain extent more handsome]. I feel the same honour and pride when I see a brother with a beard that i feel when i see another Muhajabah or Munaqabah. Also, Brothers look more mature with a beard then without. Keep one - even if it is a struggle at first and it doesn't have to be fist length if you find it hard. At least try but please - have some facial hair and Inshallah that'll grow into a proper beard over time as the imaan increases. Do it out of love for the Prophet Sallalahu alayhi wasallam.

Some Sisters' are to blame too. I know some Sisters dislike the beard even though they themselves are Hijabis and discourage their men-folk from keeping one. Most of the time these Sisters don't know the ruling and hikmah behind it and therefore need to be enlightened about it and inshallah they will understand. So ladies, encourage your men-folk about keeping one.

However, i would like to say that this does not mean that we should go around harrasing Brothers who don't have beards. No one should be forced in these things but a Person should do these things from the heart and that way their Imaan and love for the deen increases. If you force someone to do something - there are more chances of them rebelling. Make dua for them instead, talk to them about it and be humble. Present them with the evidence from the Quran and Sunnah and be patient. Don't jump for their throats.

I understand that just like the Hijab is a struggle for Muslim Sisters in some places, the Beard too is a struggle for our Brothers. Be it family pressure, the People in that Country or just the environment. So we shouldn't don't judge anyone Inshallah and instead give out a helping hand for our Brothers and Sisters in Islam and be understanding of them. For example - I know that for some Brothers' who've kept a beard regardless of what their Family or Peers say - it is a daily struggle for them. May Allah subhanna wa taala make it easier for them. Ameen.

Put your trust in Allah subhanna wa taála if you are going through hardship and inshallah Allah subhanna wa taala will easen your pain and difficulty. Ameen.

“… And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish His purpose. Indeed, Allaah has set a measure for all things...” [al-Talaaq 65:2-3]

“…and whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him. That is the Command of Allaah, which He has sent down to you, and whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will remit his sins from him and will enlarge his reward.” [al-Talaaq 65:5].

May Allah subhanna wa taáala make the practicing of this deen easy for us.
May Allah subhanna wa taála reward us for our good deeds and may he forgive us our sins.


Ameen.

Wa alaykumsalam warahmutallahi wabarakath

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21 comments:

samay said...

salamwalaikum, good post, we dont get to read much on beards....May Allah gide us all ameen

MASS said...

As-salamu aleykum
\Subhan Allah at a point in my life i use to have discusions all the time about beards

actually the jumhoor (majority) say its wajib to have beard only late shaf3is say otherwise

and about fist lenght most of those who say its wajib say its ok to have one fist,, and ibn 3ummar and abu hurayrah use to trim to one fist,, and this is the view of the hanafiya and some of the hanabila...

but keep in mind that some people get thrown into jail just for having one! and the majorty of scholars except hanabila see that fear is a ticket/rukhsa to shave,,

in where i live,, when you come back from travel and you have a beard you are questioned,, and then you show up at their offices for info,,, there could be checkpoints at night and then its bad bad,,,

so its not really wise to ask everyone to grow beards in certian countries,, not that i dont have one my self,, but i know whats it like having one and saying it doesnt look good or ppl make fun or sstuff like that is a pathetic excuse,, some ppl dont even find jobs with beards so should they live on the streets?? wallahi Islam is easir than that and our beards arent meant to make us perish..

and im at the opiniion that fist is ok and less is not, and better to keep all the way,, but for professional purposes and for those engaing in poli sci then we mention the rule

that leaving the mustahab is mustahab for making hearts together

also ibn taymiya is for the view that you can shave in dar al kuffr!!

for a person to grow a beard more than 2 years or 3 means ya3ni mashaAllah and inshaAllah there is some deen in them.

Edward Ott said...

It was a very nice article and i found it refreshing change from the many articles by men on Hijab.

nuh ibn zbigniew gondek said...

As salaam alaikum.

You are echoing my feelings entirely. Babyfaced brothers are quick to point to the Hijab being fard.

Let's stand with are sisters and grow some whiskers!

Wa salaama,

nuh ibn

Anonymous said...

Where did Ibn Taymiyyah say it was okay to shave it in dar al kufr?

People need to stop making excuses. You brothers are stronger then sisters and some of us sisters deal with the fitnah that comes by covering our entire bodies. We deal with it and we move on because in the end we know the `ajr we will receive for staying strong during an obligation.

Veiled Muslimah said...

Wa Alaykumsalam

al-hanbali: lol thats why i didn't delve into the differences of opinion. Instead i focused on what the majority believed. I know that most of the Ulema believe that it s obligatory but some others don't.

I know it's hard for some brothers living in Western lands but i *do* know People who have kept beards in the West. Allah alim. I guess when under pressure you can bend the rules? But isn't that actually bowing down to the kuffar?

A lot of Sisters too have come under attack in the Western Countries for covering up with Hijab/Niqaab but alhamdulilah majority of them haven't backed down. Mashallah. I'm sure the brothers could do it too? [Maybe no fist length at first if it's hard - but some sort of Beard all the same to identify themselves as Muslim]

But on the whole - some brothers refuse to keep one even in Muslim Lands and thats sad because they are able to practice freely here.

Allah subhanna wa tááala knows best and i guess we shouldn't be quick to judge others. Everyone has their own reasons. May Allah subhanna wa taála make it easy for us.

p.s- i thought ibn taymiyyah was of the strict opinion that shaving it was haram? I could be wrong - and correct me if i am Inshallah. There could be different ruling when you are in a non-muslim country.

MASS said...

Aslamu aleykum wa rahmat Allahi wa barakatuhu

anonymous
I hear this from numerous sheioukh including sheikh abu is7aq al 7uwainie

and here is an excerpt i found from the book of ibn taymiyh iqtida2 asirat
اقتضاء الصراط المستقيم مخالفة أصحاب الجحيم)(ص 176-177

إن المخالفةلهملا تكون إلا بعد ظهور الدين وعلوه كالجهاد وإلزامهم بالجزية والصغار فلما كانالمسلمونفي أول الأمر ضعفاء لم يشرع المخالفة لهم فلما كمل الدين وظهر وعلا شرعذلكومثل ذلك اليوم: لو أن المسلم بدار حرب أو دار كفر غير حرب لم يكن مأمورابالمخالفةلهم في الهدي الظاهر لما عليه في ذلك من الضرر بل قد يستحب للرجل أو يجبعليهأن يشاركهم أحيانا في هديهم الظاهر إذا كان في ذلك مصلحة دينية من دعوتهم إلىالدينوالإطلاع على باطن أمرهم لإخبار المسلمين بذلك أو دفع ضررهم عن المسلمين ونحوذلكمن المقاصد الصالحة.

فأمافي دار الإسلام والهجرة التي أعز الله فيهادينهوجعل على الكافرين بها الصغار والجزية:ففيها شرعت المخالفة وإذا ظهرت الموافقةوالمخالفةلهم باختلاف الزمان ظهر حقيقة الأحاديث من هذا

and you sisters dont have to leave the home to start with, nor it is obligatory to put on niqb in such situations even if you want to, nor you have to provide income for a house hold,,

deen is supposed to yussr,, ease

Veiled muslima
you assumed i live in the west,, i dont !, and i can say with confidence that here its much worse..

ibn taymiyah's rulling on le7ya it is wajib to keep of course,, but in dar al kuffr it changes,,

so when prophet Muhammad saw told Bilal to be patient when he was being tortured bowing down to kuffar?!!!

there is a saying the at ulama have,,,
that the fatwa is a rukhsa/license/excuse from a 3alem
but restricting (giving the harder opinion) every one can do,,,

if we keep taking the most tough opinion in each rulling then deen becomes very difficult any one could say be on the safe side,, while we could be putting people under more than they could bare...\

that is why fiqh/knowledge is crucial so we know when people can have excuses and when not..

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaykum
Speaking as someone who was born, raised and currently living in the west I dont really think keeping a neat and tidy beard causes that much of a problem. As long as the brothers look clean and presentable it shouldnt be so hard for them to keep to the sunnah.

Anonymous said...

Sister why not do an entry on men wearing their pants below their ankles?
Yes a man with a beard is much more attractive than a clean shaven one!

Veiled Muslimah said...

Assalam Alaykum,

anonymous 2: We'll take one thing at a time inshallah. lol. :)

Anonymous said...

asalaamu alaikum,

nice post, a man without a beard is like a lion without its mane.

and check out this site, i think you might like it http://islamicdownloads.wordpress.com

Veiled Muslimah said...

anonymous: Wa alaykumsalam.

Jazakallah khair for the site. Inshallah i'll like it up.

Veiled Muslimah said...

link*

B E L I E V E R said...

Assalam Alaikum dear sister,

I am finally getting this urge from within to grow a beard. This time it comes from the heart and that is the true spirit within which to grow/keep a beard. It is not a fashion statement but rather to gain Allah's pleasure just as Hijab is to gain Allah's pleasure and not to gain approval or disapproval from society. It is so unfortunate that there are some sisters on blogs that actually look down upon brothers that keep beards. (May Allah forgive them) It is important to remember that our Holy Prophet pbuh also kept a beard and if you look down upon the beard you may be looking down on our own Prophet (audhobillah). That is why I say, stop hating, start loving inshallah.

Anonymous said...

assalamu alaikum

good stuff...

although I do beleive that having visible hair on your face is sufficient for those who take the shafii position and I wouldnt say that they are doing something wrong, I personally grow mine out...yeh if you can't grab the beard then its no beard lol

nice blog

Veiled Muslimah said...

Wa Aaálaykumsalam,

believer: i agree. Exactly. a person should 'want' to do these acts. That way there are more chances of being constant inshallah.

abu hind: Wa alaykumsalam. welcome to my blog bro. Thank-you. Yeah i don't think there is anything wrong with that either. [And it's better not to judge people] A lot of people like i mentioned for whatever reason can't grow it out and there isn't really any blame in that. [If its valid].

The post in general was for all the beard haters. :P

Anonymous said...

Assalamu Alaikom,

Honestly sister: i am speechless. Why are we muslims perfectionists at incriminating others? who are we to decide who is a kaffir? what do you know about Timberlake or who ever other guy you cited? Prophet Muhammad PBUH had at times long hair and at times short hair, why? to teach us that we should not stick to external things and glue them as an identity to Islam.

Islam is so much more beautiful than what you are doing to it. You are boxing it into an unhealthy status hostile to others.

"And we created you peoples and tribes so you get to know each other". Sadak Allahu'l Atheem. To get to know each other, and not start calling names like kuffar and kafir.

Sister: i beg you, do not portray islam like this. It hurts.

Veiled Muslimah said...

Wa alaykumsalam,

Excuse me? There are specific hadith that talk about his life and how he was and those are what i've cited. External things? So keeping a beard or imitating the Prophet are considered not an islamic identity?

It is when a believer beleives in Allah and loves the Prophet and conquers his desires that he even does external things which show him to be Muslim. EG: It is obligatory upon Muslim Women to wear Hijab - which is an external 'thing'. Islam is not seperate from out live - it is a WAY of life.

I haven't called anyone a kaffir that isn't one. I haven't heard of Justin Timberlake converting to Islam? What is he? A Non-Muslim - therefore he is a kaffir. A kaffir is another word for someone who is a non-muslim or disbeliever. All i said was we should imitate the Rasool and follow him instead of following people of the dunya like justin timberlake and brad pitt, who have a lifestyle of sleeping around, drinking, clubbing, singing and so on an so forth. And EVERYONE knows these things. it's not a hidden fact. subhanallah - and you defend them?

I haven't ever in my blog called a Muslim a Kaffir. That itself is a different issue.

I have nothing against integrating and mixing with other tribes to know them. But wanting to please this dunya and giving up our religion to please them? That i am not for.

As Muslims we should hold on to our religion firmly.

You've been putting words in my mouth. I haven't every been harsh or said anything that can't be justified by shariah.

BuJ said...

salam Veiled Muslima.. very nice and interesting blog! I like the fact that it's quite moderate and open, which is what Islam needs these days.

Beards is always a hairy topic (mind the pun!) but it's always quite interesting to hear what people say about it. I believe there are parallels between beards for men and hijab for women. However I'd like to highlight that a shaven male face is not a 3awra (and has to be covered) as opposed to parts of a woman's body.

Personally I am not bearded, but wouldn't mind giving it a go given the religious aspect. However I do not for a lot of the reasons you've stated above.

Above all, I believe that a person's worth in Allah's eyes is not by what s/he wears etc but by their actions. Beards and the like matter, but I think good deeds matter more!

Anonymous said...

Likewise, in my view, the hijaab on a Muslimah makes her seem humble. Although the clothing itself does not cause attraction, many men themselves are attracted by it. Instead of modesty, sometimes nothing is really being concealed but much is being brought to attention. I recall one Muslimah completely dressed in pink as the entire neighbourhood gawked.

Some brothers from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Malay Archipelago simply cannot grow beards. They likely feel emasculated because of this. It's not their fault, but an issue of genetics. As an ex-Muslim, I even follow the Sunnah regarding this matter and cherish my beard.

I've always thought, if a Muslimah had to sport niqaab, so should a brother. Men and women are attracted to eachother, so veil both or veil neither. Why such emphasis on women? Men need modesty too. Good post.

American Muslima Writer said...

Tho it's an old post i have to add my two cents on this issue....

I love beards on men masha'Allah it makes them look mature, smarter, healthier, more attractive, and more HUMBLE/PIOUS. There are very similar issues about beards and hijab that i hadn't thought about before.
I beg my husband WEEKLY for the 5 years we've been married not to shave his beard. He had a beautiful beard when i met him and becasue of his trials in USA (literally) he shaved it so people wouldn't see him as a terrorist. Once in Lebanon people also judge men as extermists who have a beard so off it came for ages.
Now in UAE he lets it go a little longer before hacking it down to half an inch but at least he's not baby facing it as often.
I think when a man looks in the mirror and has to deal with his beard it reminds him he's a man and he's a Muslim (though other people have berds too like my aunt's husband and my g-pa in USA) just like when we look in the mirror and see our hijab we are reminded why we are wearing it.
THough I allow for genetics no one said if you CANT grow a beard you're any less. May Allah reward you men who try for he sake of ALlah though. May Allah make it easy for you men who "can't".
Excellent POst

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Musings, Articles and Ramblings of a Muslim Woman which range from a variety of different subjects.

Location: Dubai - United Arab Emirates.
The believers are only those who, when Allâh is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur'ân) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone).
Surat Al-Anfal - Verse 2
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