Is it permissible to pray taraweeh behind an Imam with a trimmed or shaven beard?

08 Apr 2021 -

Is it permissible to pray taraweeh behind an Imam with a trimmed or shaven beard? Question:

I‘m looking for ruling regarding person leading taraweeh salah without a beard (completely shaven).

Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. A person who shaves his beard or cuts it less than a fist is committing open transgression, and should thus, seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him for their wrongdoing. [1] This position is well-substantiated and established; it has been proven and discussed in great detail by many of our scholars. One may refer to the references provided in the footnotes [2], alongside the following articles:

Aḥkām al-Khiṭāb Fī Ba’ḍi Aḥkām al-Luḥā wal-Khiḍāb (Jawāhir al-Fiqh, 7/157-177, Maktabah Dār al-‘Ulūm Karāchī); Dārhī Kā Masalah (Āp Ke Masāil Aur Un Kā Ḥal, 8/289-302, Maktabah Ludhyānwī); Dārhī Kī Miqdār Kā Masalah (Fatāwā Bayyināt, 4/374-401, Maktabah Bayyināt); Dārhī Kī Shar’ī Ḥaythiyyat (Fatāwā ‘Uthmānī, 4/421-423, Maktabah Ma’ārif al-Qurān); Madhāhib Arba’ah Mei Dārhī Kī Shar’ī Ḥaythiyyat Aur Us Ke Kātne Wāle Par Fisq Kā Ḥukm (Fatāwā Dār al-‘Ulūm Zakariyyā, 2/268-271, Zamzam).

Accordingly, it will not be permissible at all to make such a person an imām to lead tarāwīḥ ṣalāh or any other ṣalāh in the Masjid. [3] Consider the following fatāwā from our Akābirīn (may Allah be pleased with them): Muftī Maḥmūd Ḥasan Ṣāḥib Gangohī (may Allah be pleased with him) has mentioned: “To cut (the beard) before it reaches a fist or to keep a small (trimmed) beard is not allowed according to anyone. Whosoever does such, it is makrūh taḥrīmī (severely disliked) to make them an imām.” [4] Muftī Rashīd Aḥmad Ṣāḥib Ludhyānwī (may Allah be pleased with him) has mentioned: “In conclusion, a person who cuts or shaves his beard is a fāsiq (open transgressor), and the imāmat (leading ṣalāh) of a fāsiq is makrūh taḥrīmī (severely disliked). Thus, it is impermissible to make such a person an imām. If such a person is forced into becoming an imām, or those responsible for the masjid have made such a person an imām, and one is not able to remove them (from the position of an imām), then one should find (and pray behind) a righteous imām in another masjid. If this is not possible then one should not leave praying in congregation; rather they should pray behind the fāsiq. The sin (of appointing such a person as an imām) will be on those responsible for the masjid.” [5] Muftī Radhā` al-Ḥaq Ṣāḥib (may Allah preserve him) has mentioned: “In the light of Sharī’ah, one who shaves his beard is a fāsiq (open transgressor), and the imāmat (leading ṣalāh) of a fāsiq is makrūh taḥrīmī (severely disliked). One should offer their tarāwīḥ ṣalāh behind a righteous imām. Yes, if this is not possible, and one is not able to change (the imām), then one should not leave the (the virtue of) congregation; rather, they should pray behind (even) such an imām.” [6] [7] And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Ishaq Chowdhury Concurred by: Hanif Yusuf | Mu‘adh Chati | Asmar Akram Approved by:  Mufti Siraj Sitponi Falahi