Question
A Shaafi scholar claims that the fist-length beard is not Sunnah for Shaafis. See below from a supposed Deobandi scholar Shaykh Yasir Al-Hanafi attempting to minimise a "great Sunnah" and trivialising the concept of Makruh, thus opening the doors to fitnah. The following video by Shaykh Saif Al-Asri, who is a notable Shāfī scholar, explains the ruling of shaving/ lengthening the beard according to the Shāfī school. In summation: - Keeping the beard is a great Sunna and we should all try to keep it. - The mu'tamad (relied upon) position within the school is that shaving is makrūh and not haram, though some scholars have adopted the latter position. Shaykh Saif also cites names of several Shāf'ī scholars. (The moron has no proper understanding of the technical terms 'makruh' and 'haraam'. The consequences of both Makruh and Haraam is the Fire of Jahannam. He seeks to obfuscate the issue and confuse the minds of the ignorant and unwary with his misunderstanding of the technical terms. –The Majlis) - Keeping a fist long is not necessary. But one should lengthen it so much that it covers the skin of the face. (Baseless, and slander. It is a blatant denial of the command of Rasulullah – sallallahu alayhi wasallam. – The Majlis) I would advise my Hanafi brethren not to directly quote Shāf'ī primary sources especially if they are not trained within the school. (We advise this moron, fake Shaafi 'shaikh' to abstain from quoting the Shaafi Math-hab. He lacks the requisite qualifications. – The Majlis) Also, remember that not everyone is a Hanafi & wears Sal-wār Qamīṣ - I'm sorry if that shocks you!" (The moron should understand and be educated that only those Ulama who wear Shalwar & Qamees have a valid understanding of the Shariah. The morons and bootlickers of the west who dress in kuffaar style – suit and tie – are too stupid to understand the Qur'aan and Hadith. – The Majlis) (End of the deviate's ghutha)
Answer
The fact that the fellow displays his snout in a haraam manner on a haraam medium testifies for his corrupt understanding of the Shaafi' position regardless of him being a Shaafi 'scholar'. He must be some cardboard or paper scholar, hence his corrupt and baseless claim. Both the so-called Hanafi, so-called Deobandi scholar and the Shaafi scholar are morons who are extremely deficient in academic knowledge, hence the gaffes and the ghutha they have excreted via their mouths.
The shaikh's statement: "Keeping the beard is a great Sunnah. We should try to keep it.", signifies kufr. He has made Istikhfaaf of the "great Sunnah", hence he advises: "We should try…". What does this chap mean by trying to keep the great Sunnah beard? It is Waajib to keep the great Sunnah beard. Denial of it is kufr. It is his western mentality which has spawned the malady of insignificance (Istikhfaaf) of such a "great Sunnah".
This wayward sheikh, despite claiming to be a Shaafi scholar demonstrates scandalous ignorance pertaining to the official and ONLY Shaafi' Fatwa on the issue of the beard.
In Al-Majmoo', Vol. 1, page 342, Imaam Nawawi states:
"It is mentioned in the Hadith: 'Verily, lengthening the Beard is part of Fitrah. Al-Khataabi and others said: "It is to increase it (the Beard) and to leave it (to grow) without cutting it. According to us (Shawaafi') cutting it is Makrooh as the Ajam do." And, it was the style of Kisra (the Persian emperor) to cut the beard and increase the moustaches. Ghazaali said in Al-Ihya: 'The Salaf differed regarding the length of the Beard. Thus, it has been said that there is nothing wrong to clasp it (with the hand) and to cut it below the fist. Ibn Umar and a group among the Taabieen did so. Sha'bi and Ibn Seereen approved of it. Hasan (Basri) and Qataadah said: It should be left long (i.e. to grow long) by virtue of the statement of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam): 'Lengthen the Beard.' … The authentic view (of the Shaafi' Math-hab) is absolute Karaahat of taking (i.e. cutting) from it. On the contrary, it should be left in its (natural) state by virtue of the Saheeh Hadith: 'Lengthen the Beard.' Regarding the Hadith of Amr Bin Shuaib narrating from his father and he from his grandfather that Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to take (cut) from his Beard from its width and its length, Tirmizi has narrated it with a Dhaeef Isnaad. Hence, it cannot be cited as proof (i.e. to formulate a rule)."
Imaam Nawawi does not say that it is permissible to shave the Beard. The following should be quite obvious from this citation:
There is absolute Karaahat of cutting the Beard in any way whatsoever, even if it is longer than a fist-length.
The difference among the Shaafi' Fuqaha pertains to cutting / trimming the Beard after it has become longer than a fist.
The official Shaafi' view is to leave the Beard to grow regardless of the length it will reach.
The difference among the Shaafi' Fuqaha relates to the length of the Beard, NOT to shaving the Beard.
Cutting / shaving the Beard was the practice of the Fire-Worshippers.
The Hadith mentioning cutting the Beard is rejected by the Shawaaf'i for purposes of formulation of a hukm since Tirmizi has designated it to be Dhaeef.
Whoever is interested in this subject should read our book, The Sunnah Beard- A Refutation of a Baatil concoction. It is a 295 page book available on our website.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 27 No 03
- PDF page
- 19
Appears under THE SUNNAH LENGTH OF THE BEARD (approximate).