The Beard - A Useful Reminder For Intelligent People

The position that Islam has, and will have in the world has a great deal to do with how the Muslims look at it, and to what extent they practice its teachings. There was a time when Islam was running through every vein in a Muslim's body, and his actions were a living portrait of the glory and beauty of Islam, and thus the flag of Islam was proudly lifted in the sky by the winds of success. The non-believers could not question Islam, because living examples of Islamic perfection were before them.

When the spirit of Islam began to fade away from the hearts of Muslims, their bodies were no longer strong enough to take all the measures and hardships necessary to practice their flawless religion. The new place for Islam was not a strong firm heart, but a dark dusty corner in the human mind. People liked to treat Islam like a constitution made by man, to be amended and abridged at will.

Where did people go wrong?

The answer is easy and simple to find.

The truth is -

We have left the pattern of life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW, who sacrificed his day and night, sweat and blood, conveying Allah's Message.

Is it too difficult to ponder upon the fact that it took a mere 23 years for The Prophet Muhammad SAW to change humanity. From the darkness into the light of righteousness.

This did not come without effort. Let us remember.

Our respect and dignity lies in following the pattern of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW, and this is why the noble practices of the Prophet SAW - that is - his Sunnah - hold great weight in the eyes of Allah SWT.

This short treatise aims to help us remember a very significant Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW - The beard.

To grow a beard was the practice of ALL Prophets AS including of course without saying - Rasulullah SAW.

To grow the beard is necessary for all Muslim males.


The Excuses of People and Their Refutation

People often make excuses to get their way around to not keeping a beard. Some exuses are as follows:

1. Some people say that the Qur'an does not order us to keep a beard. But let us ask these people that where is it mentioned in the Qur'an that we are only supposed to follow the Qur'an and neglect the teachings of the Prophet SAW? The Qur'an states very clearly that we are to obey Allah and His Messenger SAW. There are in fact - many acts, commandments, etc. that are not mentioned in the Qur'an. Let us take the number of raka'ats in Solat as a super basic example - which have not been mentioned in the Qur'an, but rather - we have been taught the exact number of the raka'ats for each Solat by our beloved Prophet SAW through his Sunnah.

2. Some people argue that to trim the beard to an unlawful extent or to shave is only a minor sin. The rebuttal to this is that - one should always keep in mind that no sin can be dismissed, and no one can say that minor sins do not affect a persons outcome in the Hereafter. A sin, no matter what it is, is still a sin and only Allah SWT can forgive sins. Furthermore, to wear a beard is an obligation for the Muslim male, and to purposely ommit an obligatory act cannot be regarded as just a small, harmless acr. A Muslim should also have in his heart - so much love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW that he feels that it is for the defence of his own dignity that he follows the practices of the Prophet SAW.

3. Another group of people give the fairy-tale excuse that Rasulullah SAW used to keep the beard because it was an Arabic fashion in those days. This is wrong, and we must realign our thinking and understanding that - however the way of the Prophet Muhammad SAW - we are commanded by Almighty Allah to follow. Indeed these are mere excuses used to justify ones actions which are contradictory to the blessed teachings of the Holy Prophet SAW.


Implications

One must recognise and be thankful to Allah that for one to act contrary to Sunnah leaves scope for repentance.

Still, however the justification of ones wrong actions is also an indirect, if not direct opposition of the teachings of Rasulullah SAW.

The keeping of the beard was an action not only observed, but also commanded by the Holy Prophet SAW.

The grand classical scholar of Hadith, Ibn Hibban RA says in his kitab - under the under the title - "The ruling of the beard in Islam":

"From among the Natural practices of Islam is the trimming of the moustache and the growing of the beard. The fire worshippers lengthen their moustaches and shave their beards."

It is also interesting to note that no reports have been made in regards to ANY Companion of Rasullullah SAW or the second generation of Muslims i.e. the Tabi'in - in regards to the shaving of the beard.

It is well known that in instances of contradiction one must turn to the Companions RA or the other Pious Predecessors to seek reference for guidance. Also - any description of any Prophet (AS) in traditions portrays him as one who kept a beard. So one can justly say that the keeping of the beard is also the practice of the previous Anbiyaa AS.

So if one is intelligent, it will be easy for him to come to the conclusion that the keeping of the beard is not only a commanded practice of the Blessed Prophet Muhammad SAW, but also an obligatory practice of the other Prophets AS, the Companions RA and our Pious Predecessors RA which should be implemented into our lives.