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| Question: I have
been wondering for a long time whether it is compulsory in Islam for men
to keep beards?
Answer: Keeping a beard is a desirable act for men. The Prophets of Allah kept beards and expressed their liking for it since this is from among the norms of human nature. It is an expression of manliness and as such a sign which distinguishes men from women. However, the Prophet (sws) did not regard keeping beards as part of the Islamic Shari‘ah. Also, it is not compulsory for men to keep a beard and if a person shaves his beard he may be deprived of some reward, but he is unlikely to be punished on this. This view also conforms to the Shafite jurists1 and to many scholars of Hadith including Qadi ‘Ayad2 who regard shaving the beard as makruh3 (undesirable). |
| 1. See Dr Wahbah al-Zahili, Fiqhu’l-Islami
wa Adillatuhu, vol. 1, p. 308.
2. See Nawawi, Sharah Sahih Muslim, 2nd ed., vol. 3, [Beirut: Daru’l-Ahya al-Turath al-‘Arabi, 1972], p. 151. 3. While defining makruh Abu Zuhrah says:
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