Length of Beard
Contents:
- Beard Length of Prophet peace be upon him
- Sahaba knew the ahadith of Prophet peace be upon him more than any other scholar.
- Hadith of Ibn Umar
- Commentary of Ibne Abbas on Surah al Hajj ayah 29
- Athar of Muhammad bin Ka`ab al Quradhi (Tabiyee)
- Athar of Mujahid (Tabiyee student of Ibne Abbas)
- Athar of Ibne Juraij
- Athar of Ibraheem al Nakh`ee (Tabiyee)
- Athar of Salim bin Abdullah bin Umar (Tabiyee)
- Athar of Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakkar Siddique (Tabiyee)
- Three Athaar of Abu Huraira
- Athar of Tawoos (Tabiyee student of Ibne Abbas)
- Athar of Ibne Sireen and Al Hasan
- Stance of Muhadditheen and Fuqaha
- The Narrations mentioned by Imam Ibn Abi Shayba in al Musannaf
- We should beautify our beards
1. Beard Length of Prophet peace be upon him
a) One of the Quranic transcribers, Yazeed al Faarisee, related that he saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in a dream during the era of Ibn Abbas and informed him. Ibn Abbas said, “Allahs Messenger (pbuh) used to say, ‘ Satan is unable to imitate my form, so whoever dreamt that they saw me, actually saw me’. Can you describe the person that you saw?” Yazeed replied,
قَدْ مَلَأَتْ لِحْيَتُهُ مِنْ هَذِهِ إِلَى هَذِهِ حَتَّى كَادَتْ تَمْلَأُ نَحْرَهُ
His beard filled from here to here (from one cheek to another) and almost filled his neck (or lower part of the neck or upper part of the chest or above chest)” [Tabaqat Ibn e Sad 1/417, Ibn e Abi Shaybah 11/525, Musnad Ahmad 1/361-62, Musnad Abu Ya’ala, Shamail al Tirmidhi 393, Ibn e Asakir 1/229]
It is mentioned in Misbah al-Lughaat: Meaning of al Nahr is Upper part of the chest, Lower part of the neck, neck [Misbah al Lughaat page 824, Al Qamus al Waheed page no. 1618]
Shaykh Abu Ameenah Bilal Phillips translated it as Neck [see his article Seeing the Prophet in a Dream]
It is mentioned in IslamQA
يعني أن لحيته الشريفة عليه الصلاة والسلام لم تكن طويلة تملأ صدره ، بل تكاد تملأ نحره ، والنحر هو أعلى الصدر ،
Meaning The noble Beard of prophet peace be upon him was not as long which filled his chest. But it filled Nahrahu, And al Nahr is above chest[ fatwa no:147167]
Same Fatwa also states:
وأما وصف لحيته صلى الله عليه وسلم بأنها كانت تملأ صدره الشريف عليه الصلاة والسلام : فهذا لم نقف عليه مسندا مأثورا ، وإنما ذكره القاضي عياض رحمه الله من غير إسناد ، ولا نسبةٍ إلى قائله .
As for saying that the beard of Prophet peace be upon him was as long as it filled his noble chest then we did not find any authentic narration on this. This is mentioned by Qadhi Iyaad Rahimaullah without any chain and did not even mention who said this. [Fatwa no:147167]
Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai Translated as
اس سے آپ کے سينے کا بالائی حصہ بھرا ہوا تھا
The upper part of his chest was filled with it (beard) [The Tadhkirah of Prophet peace be upon him in the light of authentic ahadeeth by sh Zubair Ali Zai Rahimullah, Majalla al Hadith no:113 page 18]
b) Jabir b. Samura reported.. He (peace be upon him) had a thick beard. [Sahih Muslim 2344]
Abu Ubayd al Qasim bin Salam (d 224 h) said:
الكثوثة أن تكون اللحية غير دقيقة ، ولا طويلة ، ولكن فيها كثاثة من غير عِظَمٍ ولا طول ”
“It means that the beard is not thin or long but it is thick without being too dense or long.” [at-Tabarani in Mu`jam al Kabeer 22/159]
Abul Abbas al Qurtubi commented:
” لا يفهم من هذا أنه كان طويلها ، فإنَّه قد صحَّ أنه كان كثَّ اللحية ؛ أي : كثير شعرها غير طويلة ”
This does not mean that he (peace be upon him) had a long beard; it meant that it was thick but not long. [”المفهم لما أشكل من تلخيص صحيح مسلم ” (6/135)]
Ibn Hajr al Asqalani said:
قَوْله كث اللِّحْيَة أَي فِيهَا كَثَافَة واستدارة وَلَيْسَت طَوِيلَة
Meaning: It was think and round, it was not Long.
[Muqaddima Fath al Bari 1/178]
2. Sahaba Knew ahadith of Prophet peace be upon him more than any other scholar.
Ibn Masood ra said:
والله لقد جئتم ببدعة ظلماء أو قد فضلتم أصحاب محمد صلى الله عليه و سلم علما
WALLAH, You have started a dark innovation or do you exceed in knowledge from the Companions of Prophet peace be upon him? [al Mojam al Kabeer at-Tabrani 9/126]
Ibn ‘Abbas said:
أَتُعَلِّمُنِي بِالسُّنَّةِ لاَ أُمَّ لَكَ .
May you be deprived of your mother, do you teach me Sunnah? [Sahih Muslim, The Book of Prayer of the Travellers, Chapter: Combination Of Prayers, When One Is Resident]
Imam at-Tirmidhee said:
لِأَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ هُوَ رَوَى عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَعْنَى مَا رَوَى
Ibn Umar narrated from Prophet peace be upon him and he knows his narration more (then others) [Tirmidhee no. 1245]
3. Hadith of Abdullah Ibn Umar
Narrated Nafi’: Ibn Umar said, The Prophet said, ‘Do the opposite of what the pagans do. Keep the beards and cut the moustaches short.’ Whenever Ibn ‘Umar performed the Hajj or ‘Umra, he used to hold his beard with his hand and cut whatever moustaches. Ibn Umar used to cut his moustache so short that the whiteness of his skin (above the upper lip) was visible, and he used to cut (the hair) between his moustaches and his beard. (Bukhari Book #72, Hadith #780)
Abu Dawood narrated:
Marwan bin Salim said I have seen Ibn Umar he used to hold his beard with his hand and cut whatever moustaches….[Abu Dawood hadeeth no: 2357 authenticated by Al-Albani]
Ibn Hajar said:
قلت . الذي يظهر أن ابن عمر كان لا يخص هذا التخصيص بالنسك بل كان يحمل الأمر بالإعفاء على غير الحالة التي تتشوه فيها الصورة بإفراط طول شعر اللحية أو عرضه
I (Ibn Hajar) say: apparently Ibn Umar ra did not restrict this (trimming) to the Hajj and Umrah rather according to him the practice of leaving the beard was on the situation that there should not be any disliking because of excessive length of hair or sides (of beard) [Fath al Bari 10/350]
Note that there is not a single Sahabi who opposed the practice of Ibn Umar, Abu Huraira and Ibn Abbas ra and It is impossible that the SAHABI like Abdullah ibn Umar Ra heard something from Prophet and he himself oppose him(Prophet Peace be upon him)
3. Athaar of Abu Huraira
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Trim closely the moustache, and grow beard, and thus act against the fire-worshippers. (Sahih Muslim Book #002, Hadith #0501)
Another hadeeth from Abu Huraira
25999- حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَيُّوبَ ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَأْخُذُ مِنْ لِحْيَتِهِ مَا جَازَ الْقُبْضَةَ.
Abu Huraira RA used to cut what extended beyond a fist-length.[Ibn e abi shaiba Vol 8 page 375 hadith 25999]
Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai Said in Majallah Al hadeeth no: 27 page 57
The narrator of this hadeeth is Amr bin Ayyub, Ibn e hibban Mentioned him in his Thiqqat 7/224 and 225
and Shu’bah is Narrating from him, The Rule of Shobah is that he only narrates from Trustworthy narrators according to Him. (Tahdeeb at tahdeeb vol 1 page 4)…Because of these two Tawtheeqaat Amr bin Ayyub is considered as hasan al hadith(end quote)
Note: Abu Huraira ra is narrator of the hadith which states grow beard, and he himself used to cut. He knew the hadith more than others.
4. Athar of Ibn Abbas
Allah says
(29. Then let them complete their prescribed duties and perform their vows, and circumambulate the `Atiq House.)
Commentry of Ibn Abbas
قال: ثنا هشيـم، قال: أخبرنا عبد الـملك، عن عطاء، عن ابن عبـاس، أنه قال، فـي قوله: { ثُمَّ لْـيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ } قال: التفَث: حلق الرأس، وأخذ من الشاربـين، ونتف الإبط، وحلق العانة، وقصّ الأظفـار، والأخذ من العارضين، ورمي الـجمار، والـموقـف بعرفة والـمزدلفة.
Ibn ‘Abbas said, regarding Saying: {“Then let them complete their prescribed duties…”} [al-Hajj: 29]:
“The duties are: 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 pillars (jamarat), and staying in ‘Arafah and Muzdalifah.”(translation taken from Multaqa)
(Tafseer Tabree under surah al hajj ayah 29, Ibn e abi shaiba vol 4 page 85 hadith 15668 and from other Nuskha vol 3 hadith 15673 with authentic chain and Ibne Abdul Barr mentioned this inالاستذكار 8/336 ,Shaykh Al bani authenticated in his Daeefah hadeeth no: 5453,Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai Authenticated in Majallah Al hadith no: 27 PAGE 56]
Another words from Ibn Abbas narrated by Abu Jafar al Nahas as mentioned in Ma`ani Al Quran vol 4 page 402
التفث: الحلق، والتقصير، والرمي، والذبح، والأخذ من الشارب، واللحية، ونتف الإبط، وقص الأظفار”.
…Trimming the Mustaches and Beard..
Another words from al Musannaf ibn abi shaiba vol 3 page 429)
“التفث: الرمي، والذبح، والحلق، والتقصير، والأخذ من الشارب، والأظفار، واللحية”.
…..Trimming the beard.
5. Athar of Muhammad bin Ka’ab al-Quradhi (tabiyee)
حدثنـي يونس، قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب، قال: أخبرنـي أبو صخر، عن مـحمد بن كعب القُرَظيّ، أنه كان يقول فـي هذه الآية: { ثُمَّ لْـيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ }: رمي الـجِمار، وذبح الذبـيحة، وأخذ من الشاربـين واللـحية والأظفـار، والطواف بـالبـيت وبـالصفـا والـمروة.
Muhammad bin Ka’ab Al Quradhi used to say, regarding the verse: {“Then let them complete their prescribed duties…”} [al-Hajj: 29] what has been stated above, and in it is his saying “…and trimming the moustache and beard.”
(Tafseer Tabree under surah al hajj ayah 29 and Ibne Abdul Barr in At Tamheed (3/38 فتح البر) Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai Authenticated in Risalah Al hadith no: 27 PAGE 56, Shaykh Muqabbil bin Hadee said the chain is Hasan in Al Jame fe Al Ahkam al Lahiyah page 145,Authenticated by Shaykh Al Bani in Sissilah Daeefa hadeeth no:5453]
6. Athar of Mujahid(tabiee)
حدثنـي مـحمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى وحدثنـي الـحارث، قال: ثنا الـحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعاً، عن ابن أبـي نـجيح، عن مـجاهد: { ثُمَّ لْـيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ } قال: حلق الرأس، وحلق العانة، وقصّ الأظفـار، وقصّ الشارب، ورمي الـجمار، وقصّ اللـحية.
Mujahid (tabiee) said regarding Saying: {“Then let them complete their prescribed duties…”} [al-Hajj: 29]:Shaving the head, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the nails, trimming the mustache, and throwing the stones at Jamaar(pillars), trimming the beard.(Translation taken from Multaqa)[Commentary of Qur`an by Tabree 17/150 Authenticated by Shaykh Muqabbil bin Hadee in Al Jame fe Al Ahkam al Lahiyah page 145,Authenticated by Shaykh Al Albani in Silsilah Daeefa hadeeth no: 5453]
7. Athar of Ibn Juraij
Al-Muharabi said:
حدثنـي نصر بن عبد الرحمن الأودي، قال: ثنا الـمـحاربـي، قال: سمعت رجلاً يسأل ابن جُرَيج، عن قوله: { ثُمَّ لْـيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ } قال: الأخذ من اللـحية، ومن الشارب، وتقلـيـم الأظفـار، ونتف الإبط، وحلق العانة، ورمي الـجمار.
“Al Muharabi said I heard a man ask Ibn Jurayj regarding His Saying: {“Then let them complete their prescribed duties…”} [al-Hajj: 29], and he said: “Trimming the beard and the moustache…”” (translation taken from Multaqa)
[Reported by Ibn Jarir under surah al hajj ayah 29,Authenticated by Shaykh Muqabbil bin Hadee in Jame fe Al Ahkam Lahiyah page 148 and Shaykh Zubair ali Zai in Risalah Al hadith no: 27 PAGE 56]8. Athar of Ibraheem Nakhaee (Tabiyee)
عن غندر عن شعبة عن منصور
” وكان إبراهيم يأخذ من عارض لحيته
Ibraheem AL Nakha`ee used to cut his hair from side of beard
9. Athar of Salim bin Abdullah bin Omar RA
Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that when Salim ibn Abdullah intended to go into ihram he would call for some scissors and trim his moustache and beard before setting off and before going into ihram.
10. Athar of Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakkar Siddique
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ الْعَقَدِيُّ عَنْ أَفْلَحَ قَالَ : كَانَ الْقَاسِمُ إذَا حَلَقَ رَأْسَهُ أَخَذَ مِنْ لِحْيَتِهِ وَشَارِبِهِ .
(Whenever he used to cut his hair from head he used to cut from his mustaches and beard)
[Ibn e Abi Shaiba Vol 8 page no: 375 hadeeth no: 25996, Authenticated by Shaykh Muqabbil bin Hadee as he said chain is authentic in Jame fe al Ahkam Lahiya page 148,Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai Authenticated this in Risalah Al Hadeeth no: 27 page 57]11. Tawoos (Tabiee) Rahimaullah
(He used to trim his beard) Narrated by Ibne abi shaiba8/375,Ibne Abdul Barr in Al Istedhkaar 28/63, Khallal in Al Tarjul page 13, shaykh Zubair Ali Zai authenticated in majallah al Hadith no. 27 page 57, Shaykh Muqabbil bin Al Hadi said the chain is authentic in Jame fe ahkam Lahiyah page 147]
12. Ibn sireen and Al hasan
“حدثنا وكيع عن أبي هلال؛ قال: سألت الحسن وابن سيرين فقالا: لا بأس به أن تأخذ من طول لحيتك
Abi Hilal Said i asked Al hasan and Ibn e Sireen they said: There is no harm to take from the length of beard[Ibn e abi shaiba vol 8 Page 376 no: 26000]
Note: That Abi Hilal is Mutakallim feeh that is Jarh and Tadeel both are on him and he is Truthful La`ieen. accroding to Yahya bin Maieen There is nothing wrong in him and his narrations from Qatadah are weak(and here he is narrating from Hasan and Ibn Sireen), we are quoting his narrations in support
Al Imam Ibn Abdul Barr said about Al Hasan And Ibn Sireen Regarding there stance on Trimming Bread
وكان الحسن يأخذ من طول لحيته، وكان ابن سيرين لا يرى بذلك بأسًا
Al Hasan Trimmed from the Length of His Beard and Ibn e Sireen did not see anything wrong in it.[At Tamheed li Ibn Abdul Barr 14/46]
So it seems that this Athar is Correct Allahu alam
13. Stance of Muhadditheen and Fuqaha
a) The stance of Imam Ahmad Bin hanbal
Shaykh al AlBani said:
al-Khallal reported from Imam Ahmad that he was asked about taking from the beard, so he said: “‘Ibn Umar used to cut off that which was in excess of a fistful,” and it is as if this was Ahmad’s opinion. Harb said: “I said to him (Ahmad): “So, what is meant by ‘leaving it’?” He replied: “It is reported from the Prophet that this is what ‘leaving’ was, according to him.”…….Then al-Khallal reported by way of Ishaq, who said: “I asked Ahmad about a man who trims from his cheeks, so he said: “He should take off his beard what is in excess of a fistful.” I said: “And the hadith of the Prophet: “Trim the moustache and leave the beard”?” He replied: “He takes from its length and from under his neck,” and I saw Abu ‘Abdullah (Ahmad) trim its length and take from under his neck.”[‘as-Silsilah ad-Da’ifah’ (5/375), taken from Multaqa]
Imam Shamsuddeen Ibn Mufleh al-Maqdisi al Hanbalee states,
وفي المذهب ما لم يستهجن طولها ( و م ) ويحرم حلقها ذكره شيخنا . ولا يكره أخذ ما زاد على القبضة ، ونصه لا بأس بأخذه وما تحت حلقه لفعل ابن عمر
‘It is forbidden to shave the beard as mentioned by my shaykh. And it is not disliked to trim what is in excess of a fist’s length because this is supported by the practice of Abdullah ibn Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu,.’ (Kitaab al Furoo vol.1 pg.151 Maktabah al Shamela)
b) The stance of Imam ash-Shafiee
He said
فمن توضأ ثم أخذ من أظفاره ورأسه ولحيته وشاربه لم يكن عليه إعادة وضوء وهذا زيادة نظافة وطهارة
Whoever did wudoo and (after that) cut his nails, hair from head, beard and mustaches then repeating wudoo is not due on him, rather it is further cleaning oneself. [al Umm 1/21]
He also said:
وأحب إلى لو أخذ من لحيته وشاربيه حتى يضع من شعره شيئا لله
And its beloved to me , if one takes from his beard and his moustache till he cuts from them for Allah[Kitab Al Umm Vol 2 Page 211]
al Muzni said:
ما رأيت وجها أحسن من وجه الشافعي ولا رأيت لحية أحسن من لحيته وكان ربما قبض عليها فلا تفضل عن قبضته ولقد سمعته يوما ينشد * قوم يرون النبل تطويل اللحا * لا علم دين عندهم ولا تقى ربوا صغارا ثم خلوهم سدا * بغرة الجهل وآداب النسا فلو ترى شيخهم إذا احتبى * ثم ابتدى في رخص سعر وغلا *
‘I never saw anyone with a more beautiful face than Shafi’aee, if he took his beard in his fist, his beard would not be more than his fist. And I heard him one day, He was saying (a poetry),
These people think that too long beard is nobility, they have no knowledge of deen, neither they have taqwa… If you see their shaykh sitting on the ground and giving an opinion (without thinking) regarding fluctuations of rates. [Tareekh Damishq 51/280-281, roughly translated]
c) Malaki Madhab
Imam an-Nawawi said that
قال القاضي عياض – رحمه الله – تعالى – يكره حلقها وقصها وتحريقها ، وأما الأخذ من طولها وعرضها فحسن ، وتكره الشهرة في تعظيمها كما تكره في قصها وجزها . قال : وقد اختلف السلف هل لذلك حد ؟ فمنهم من لم يحدد شيئا في ذلك إلا أنه لا يتركها لحد الشهرة ويأخذ منها ، وكره مالك طولها جدا
Qadi `Iyad (Allah have mercy on him) said that to shave, shorten, or singe off the beard is disliked, but that to trim it from the bottom and the sides is praiseworthy, and that it is disliked to grow it so large that it attracts undue attention, just as it is disliked to shorten or crop it.He also said that the early Muslims disagreed whether or not there was a maximum limit to which the beard should be left to grow: some held that there was no limit, but that one should not let it grow so long that it attracts attention and Malik disliked making it extremely long[الكتب » صحيح مسلم » كتاب الطهارة » باب خصال الفطرة]
Qurtubi al-Maaliki has also mentioned something similar to this in his commentary of Sahih Muslim. (see al-Mufhim vol.1 pg.513)
Abu Waleed alBaji said
Malik said that it was desirable – i.e. to trim the beard and moustaches – because taking from their length does not change the creation from its beauty, as regards shaving them clean it, is like the shaving of the hair of a woman, and it is forbidden for her to do so, the same thing applies to shaving the beard and moustaches as this changes the creation and causes mutilation. But what goes beyond its beauty and becomes disheveled, then it is permissible to take from it.[AlMuntaqi sharah alMawatta quoted by Islamweb fatwa: 87648]
d) Ibn Taymiyah’s view on taking from the beard.
He said:
وأما إعفاء اللحية فإنه يترك ولو أخذ ما زاد على القبضة لم يكره، نص عليه كما تقدم عن ابن عمر، وكذلك أخذ ما تطاير منها
As for the beard, he lets it grow, and if he cuts what exceeds one’s fist, then that is not disliked, as mentioned in the report of Ibn ‘Umar.” [Sharh Al-‘Umdah (1/236)]
e) Shaykh al Albani concluded’:
So, the authentic narrations contain that which is a proof for the permissibility of trimming the beard or taking from it, and that it was a well known practice amongst the Salaf. This is in opposition to what some of our brothers from Ahl al-Hadith think, those who are severe against allowing the trimming of the beard, clinging to the general saying of his “…and leave the beard!” without paying attention to the fact that what was understood from the general meaning was not intended due to the lack of the action of the Salaf upon this interpretation, and amongst them are those who reported the general hadith itself, and they are: ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar, and his hadith is in the two ‘Sahih’s; Abu Hurayrah, and his hadith is in ‘Sahih Muslim,’ and I have given the origins of both in ‘Jilbab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah’ (p. 185-187); and Ibn ‘Abbas, and his hadith is in ‘Majma’ az-Zawa’id’ (5/169).
And from that in which there is no doubt is that the reporter of the hadith is the most knowledgeable about the intended meaning of it than those who did not hear it from the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he is the more enthusiastic in following it than them.
al-Khallal has reported from them (Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah) in ‘at-Tarajjul’ (p. 11) with two authentic chains, and he reported from Imam Ahmad that he was asked about taking from the beard, so he said: “‘Ibn Umar used to cut off that which was in excess of a fistful,” and it is as if this was Ahmad’s opinion. Harb said: “I said to him (Ahmad): “So, what is meant by ‘leaving it’?” He replied: “It is reported from the Prophet that this is what ‘leaving’ was, according to him.”
And it is well known that the narrator is the most knowledgeable about what he narrates than others, especially when he one who is very strict about following the Sunnah – such as Ibn ‘Umar – and he saw his Prophet – the one who ordered with leaving it – day and night, so reflect upon this!
Then al-Khallal reported by way of Ishaq, who said: “I asked Ahmad about a man who trims from his cheeks, so he said: “He should take off his beard what is in excess of a fistful.” I said: “And the hadith of the Prophet: “Trim the moustache and leave the beard”?” He replied: “He takes from its length and from under his neck,” and I saw Abu ‘Abdullah (Ahmad) trim its length and take from under his neck.”
And I have expanded a little bit here by mentioning the sayings of some of the Salaf and imams 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 ruling is not acted upon, then is it proof that it is not intended meaning.”
(as-Silsilah ad-Da’ifah’ (5/375) taken from Multaqa)
There are very few scholars who said that even trimming beard is wrong
i) Shaykh Sana ullah Amritsari Rahimahullah on beard length:
The great debater of Ahlus sunnah in India, Fateh Qaadiyaan, Shaykh Sana ullah Amritsari Rahimahullah said:
… There are two different ahadith regarding this issue, first states “leave the beards” and second one is his (peace be upon him) practice that He used to trim the extra hair from the sides of the beard. So, Reconciliation is that it is mustahab to grow full beard and allowed to cut after one fist. [end quote]
Shaykh Abu Saeed Sharf ud din Dehalwi commented in Fatawa Sanaiya on this quote,
The conclusion is, according to the righteous predecessors and majority of the Companions and their students, The scholars and muhadditheen it is wajib to leave it for one fist… because it is Itteba of sunnah and going against the mushrikeen. And it is allowed to cut which is more than one fist.
And it is Wajib to take from beard if it is too long or if it is Deforming the face or if it is growing like some mushrikeen Hindu sadhu, sikh and others. As there symbol is not taking from the beard and growing it without taking anything. Otherwise it is going against sunnah, rather an innovation due to accepting the (opinion of) mushrikeen. And no one from the salaf said this. [Fatawa Sanaiya 2/138]
14. The narrations in al Musannaf Imam Ibne Abi Shaybah
This is whole chapter from Ibn Abi Shaybah
“ما قالوا في الاخذ من اللحية” What they say on cutting from beard
Ghundar narrated to us, from Shu’bah, from Mansoor who said, “I heard Ataa ibn Abee Rabaah (the taabi’ee) saying, ‘They used to like to leave the beard except in Hajj or Umrah, and Ibraaheem used to take from the sides of his beard.'”
And he narrates, ‘Aa’idh ibn Habeeb narrated to us, from Ash’ath, from al-Hasan (i.e., al-Basree) who said, “They used to allow for what was in excess of what is gripped by the hand of the beard, that it be taken from.”
And he narrates, Aboo Aamir al-Aqdee narrated to us, from Aflah who said, al-Qaasim (the taabi’ee) when he shaved his head would take from his beard and moustache.”
And he narrates, Alee ibn Haashim and Wakee narrtaed to us, from Ibn Abee Laylaa, from Naafi, from Ibn Umar, “That he used to take what was above a hands grip.” Wakee said, “What was in excess of a hands-grip.”
And he narrates, Wakee narrated to us, from Aboo Hilaal who said, “I asked al-Hasan (i.e., al-Basree) and Ibn Seereen who both said, “There is no harm for you to take from the length of your beard.”
And he narrates, Wakee narrated to us, from Sufyaan, from Mansoor, from Ibraaheem (an-Nakha’ee) who said, “They used to take something from and tidy their beards and take from the sides.”
source of Translation: http://www.kalamullah.com/brothers01.html
15. We should Beautify Our beards
a) Prophet Peace be upon him himself said
Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said “Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty.[Sahih Muslim Book #001, Hadith #0164]
b) Narrated jabir ibn Abdullah: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) paid visit to us, and saw a dishevelled man whose hair was disordered. He said: Could this man not find something to make his hair lie down? He saw another man wearing dirty clothes and said: Could this man not find something to wash his garments with. (Abu Dawood Book #32, Hadith #4051 authenticated by al-AlBani)
c) Mawatta Imam Malik Book 51, Number 51.2.7:
Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam that Ata ibn Yasar told him that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was in the mosque when a man came in with dishevelled hair and beard. The Messenger of Allah. may Allah bless him and grant him peace, motioned with his hand thathe should be sent out to groom his hair and beard. The man did so and then returned. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Isn’t this better than that one of you should come with his head dishevelled, as if he were a shaytan?”(Ibn Abdul Barr said in at-Tamheed 5/50 ” ولا خلاف عن مالك أن هذا الحديث مرسل وقد يتصل معناه من حديث جابر وغيره
c) The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recommended combing hair, and said, “Whoever has hair, let him take care of it.” (Abu Dawood, Kitaab al-Tarajjul, 3632. Al-Albaani said in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood: it is hasan saheeh. Hadeeth no. 3509)
Some Important links
a) In the Light of Islam – Growing the Beard – Bilal Philips
b) Article The-Beard-between-Salaf-Khalaf-by-Muhammad-Jibaly (the pdf article)
c) A detailed discussion on this issue
http://ahlalhdeeth.cc/vbe/showthread.php?t=974
d) Lecture of Shaykh al Muhaddith Zubair Ali Zai of Pakistan, He clearly said “It is Proven Mutlaqan that Sahaba and Tabiyeen trimed the beard even other then Hajj” see from Minutes 1:50 onwards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GF6_JMiKaw