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Trimming the beard The Imaam of the Sunnah says, "And know that no authentic hadeeth is reported from the Prophet (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) regarding trimming the beard neither by speech like this one (the Shaikh here refers to narration no. 2355 in the Da?eefah), or by action such as the hadeeth which as preceded under no. 288. Yes, that  (trimming the beard) is affirmed from some of the Salaf, and for you I present below a brief treatment of the topic: 1) From Marwaan bin Saalim al-Muqaffa? who said, ?I saw ibn Umar grasp his beard and cut off that which had exceeded a fistful.? Reported by Abu Dawood and others with a hasan chain as I have explained in Irwaa (920) and Saheeh Abu Dawood 2041 2) From Naafi? that Abdullah ibn Umar used to finish fasting in Ramadan and he intended to make hajj, then he would not take off any of his hair or beard until he had made hajj. And in another narration that when Abdullah bin Umar used to cut his hair after hajj or umrah he would also take from his beard and moustache. Reported by Maalik in al-Muwataa. And al-Khalaal reports in ?at-Tarajul? (p.11) with a saheeh chain from Mujaahid who said, ?I saw ibn Umar grasp his beard on the day of Nahr then he said the cupper, ?Take off what is below a fistful.? Al-Baajee said in ?Sharh al-Muwattaa?, ?meaning that he used to trim form it along with cutting his hair, and Maalik (rahimahullaah)  recommended that since trimming it is in a way that does not alter the natural disposition of the creation in terms of beauty?? 3) From Ibn Abbaas that he said regarding His, the Most High, saying, ?Then let them complete their prescribed duties?? (Hajj:29) The duties: shaving the head, trimming the moustache, plucking out the armpit hairs, shaving the pubic hairs, cutting the nails and taking hair off the cheeks (and in another narration- the beard) and throwing stones at the Jimaar, and staying in Arafah and Muzdalifah.? Reported by ibn Abee Shaybah (4/85) and ibn Jareer in the Tafseer (18/109) with a saheeh chain. 4) From Muhammad bin Kaab al-Quradhee that he used to say regarding the verse ?Then let them complete their prescribed duties?? (Hajj:29) and he mentioned what has been stated above and in it is his saying ?And trimming the moustache and beard.? Reported by ibn Jareer also, and its chain is saheeh or hasan at least. 5) From Mujaahid, same as above with the wording, ?And trimming the moustache ?and trimming the beard.? Reported by ibn Jareer also, and its chain is saheeh. 6) From al-Muhaarabee (and he is Abdur Rahmaan bin Muhammad) who said, ?I heard a man ask ibn Juraij and His saying ?Then let them complete their prescribed duties?? (Hajj:29) and he said, ?Trimming the beard and the moustache?? Reported by ibn Jareer also, and its chain is saheeh. 7) And in the Muwataa also, that it reached him that when Saalim bin Abdullah intended to go into ihraam, he asked for some scissors and trimmed his moustache and beard before setting off and before putting on his ihraam. 8) And from Abu Hilaal who said, I was informed by a Shaikh- I think he was from the people of Madeenah- who said, ?I saw Abu Hurayrah trim the hair from his cheeks.? And he said , ?And I saw him with a yellowish beard.? Reported by ibn Saad in at-Tabaqaat (4/334)

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I say: So the authentic narrations contain that which is a proof for trimming the beard or taking from it and that it was a well known matter amongst the Salaf. As opposed to what some of our brothers from Ahl-ul-Hadeeth think, those who are severe against allowing trimming the beard, clinging to the general saying of his (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) ??and leave the beard!? without paying attention to what was understood from the general was not intended, due to the lack of procession of the actions of the Salaf upon it and amongst them are those who reported the general hadeeth, and they are Abdullah bin Umar and his hadeeth is in the two Saheehs and Abu Hurayrah and his hadeeth is in Muslim and I have given the Takhreej of both in ?Jilbaab al-Marah al-Muslimah? (p.185-187 Makatabah Islaamiyah print) and ibn Abbaas and his hadeeth ? is in Majma? uz-Zawaaid (5/169). And from that in which there is no doubt that the reporter of the hadeeth is the most knowledgeable about the intended meaning of it,  than those who did not hear it from the Prophet (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) and he is the more enthusiastic in following it than them. And this is based on the assumption that leaving it means to let it grow and enlarge as is well known, however al-Baajee said in Sharh al-Muwataa (7/266) quoting from al-Qaadee Abu Waleed.

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I say: Al-Khallaal has reported from them (Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah) in ?at-Tarajul? (p. 11) with two saheeh chains and he reported from imaam Ahmed that he was asked about taking from the beard? And he said, ? Ibn Umar used to cut off that which was in excess of a fistful? And it is as if this was his (Ahmad?s opinion)  Harb said, ?I said to him, (Imaam Ahmad) ?What is leaving it?? He replied, ?It is reported from the Prophet (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) this is what ?leaving? was according to him? I say: And it is well known that the narrator is the most knowledgeable about what he narrates than other, and especially when he is very strict about the Sunnah such as ibn Umar, and he saw his prophet (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) the one who ordered with leaving it, day and night, so reflect! Then al-Khallaal reported by way of Ishaaq who said, ?I asked Ahmed about a man who trims from his cheeks? He should take off his beard what is in excess of a fistful.? I said, ?And the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) ?Trim the moustache and leave the beard? ?? He replied, ?He takes from its length and from under his neck.? And I saw Abu Abdullaah trim its length and take from under his neck.       I say: And I have expanded a little bit here by mentioning the sayings of some of the Salaf and imaams due to their strength and due to the misconception of many people that this is in opposition to the general ?and Leave the beard? and they did not pay attention to the principle that when an element from the elements of the general is not acted upon then is it proof that it is not intended. And how widespread are the innovations which Imaam as-Shaatabee calls ?The innovations of Idaafiyah? (additional or supplementary)  in this respect. But despite that they are still rejected according to the people of knowledge because they are not the actions of the Salaf. And they were more pious and more knowledgeable than the khalaf. So it is hoped that this matter is given due attention for it is a critical and important matter.

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Then al-Khallaal reported by way of Ishaaq who said, ?I asked Ahmed about a man who trims from his cheeks? He should take off his beard what is in excess of a fistful.? I said, ?And the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) ?Trim the moustache and leave the beard? ?? He replied, ?He takes from its length and from under his neck.?