Question: What is the ruling on growing beard, is it an order (fard) or just a practice (sunnah)?
The Messenger of Allah says as follows about growing beard:
Abdullah Ibn Umar (r.a.) narrates: “Rasulullah (p.b.u.h.) decreed:
“Trim closely the moustache and let the beard grow.”
In a narration by Sahîheyn (Bukhari and Muslim):
“The following deeds are of human nature (fitrah): Shaving the pubic hair, clipping the nails, trimming the moustache.”
Another narration says:
“Act contrary to the concealers (mushrikun), trim closely the moustache and grow the beard.”
Aisha narrates:”Messenger of Allah said:
“Ten things are of fitrah: Trimming the moustache, growing the beard, siwak (arak stick for cleaning the teeth), istinshaq (throwing water up into the nostrils), madhmada (rinsing and gargling of the mouth), clipping the nails, washing between the toes, plucking the armpits, shaving the pubic hair, istinja (cleaning oneself with water after defecation). ”
By means of these narrations, some scholars consider growing beard as an order. Some others consider as a traditional regulation that was to be made in the Arabic society where everybody grew beard and where moustaches used to mix up into beards.
Since there are narrations which can prove both sides right and the Messenger of Allah used to grow beard, we can consider it as practice of the Prophet, namely sunnah. So we recommend you to read the narrations and make your own decision.
Add comment