Author: Abdulrazzaq al-Maghribi
Date published: 2022-10-12
Updated: 2026-05-24
Shortening the beard
The majority of scholars hold that shortening the beard is permissible what exceeds a handful. This was the practise of Sahaba like Ibn Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and others.
The safer view appears to be that the beard is obligatory, because there are no reports from the Sahaba, Tabi'een or Atba Tabi'een that they ever trimmed their beards short. This indicates to us that they understood the beard to be obligatory, and that the exception of trimming applies to what exceeds a handful.
There are three opinions regarding trimming the beard:
- It is haram to trim the beard shorter than a fistful.
- It is makruh to trim the beard shorter than a fistful.
- It is okay to trim the beard short.
The view that the beard is obligatory is based on the commandment of the Prophet (ﷺ) to let the beard grow.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Cut the mustache short and let the beard grow."
[Sahih al-Bukhari 5893]
Those who say that growing the beard is not obligatory would understand this narration as a recommendation from the Prophet (ﷺ), similar to dyeing grey hair with henna or similar means in order to distinguish oneself from the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab).
Some of the Companions (Sahaba) kept grey beards and did not dye them, which is why dyeing the beard was understood to be recommended rather than obligatory. However, there are no reports indicating that any of the Companions kept their beards short.
Abdullah ibn Umar trimmed his beard when it exceeded a fist's length.
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah #25486]
Abu Hurairah trimmed his beard, if it was more than a fist's length.
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah #25488]
Al-Qaasim (grandson of companion Abu Bakr) took from his beard and mustache.
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah #25485]
Hasan al-Basri said:
"They (Companions) allowed to shorten of the beard what exceeds a fist-length."
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah #25484]
Ibrahim an-Nakha'ee said:
"They (Companions) took away some of the length and width."
[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah #25490]
Also the madhabs were of the opinion that it is permissible to trim of the beard that which exceeds a fist length. Thus, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad reported this, and Imam Shafi'i's beard length was a fist length.
Imam Malik said:
"I believe that one shortens the beard if it is too long. It was narrated from Abdullaah bin Umar and Abu Hurairah -RadhiAllaahu 'anhuma- that they both took from their beards what was more than a handful."
[Risalah page 683 of Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani]
Al-Muzani (student of Imam Shafi'i) described his teacher:
"I have never seen anyone with a more beautiful face than Shafi'i. If he took his beard in his hand, his beard would not exceed it. Shafi'i said in a poetry: "Some people think that having a very long beard makes you more noble. That is not from understanding and Taqwa (to believe that)."
[Tareekh Dimashq 51/280-281]
Ibn Hani narrated:
I asked Abu Abdullah (Imam Ahmad) about a person who shortened the beard from the width. He replied, "Take from the beard what exceeds a fist length. Take from the length and from under the throat." I once saw Abu Abdullah take from his cheeks and under the throat."
[Masail (2/151) by Ibn Hani]
