Praying
behind a man who shaves off his beard
*Please appropriately reference
this fatwa to: www.fatwa-online.com, thankyou!*
Question:
A man who shaves off his beard is the khateeb in the central
masjid.
Do you advise we pray behind him? Please explain.
Response:
All Praise is for Allaah the One, and prayers and salutations
upon His Messenger, upon his family and his companions. To
proceed
Trimming
off the beard is haraam
for that which has been transmitted by Ahmad, al-Bukhaaree
and Muslim
on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (radhi-yallaahu
'anhumaa) that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Differ
from the mushrikoon
and leave the beards (to grow) and trim the moustaches)).
Also,
that which has been transmitted by Ahmad and Muslim
on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radhi-yallaahu
'anhu) that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Trim
the moustaches and leave the beards (to grow) and oppose (differ)
from the magians)).
So,
to insist on shaving off the beard is from amongst the major
sins, therefore it is obligatory that we advise the one who
shaves off his beard and admonish him for it.
So
based upon this, if he is an imaam
of a masjid
and does not take the advice, then it is obligatory to replace
him if possible providing it does not cause any major fitnah.
Otherwise, it is obligatory to pray behind other than him,
from those who are noble, if this is possible for them. This
is so as to rebuke and admonish him, so long as this too does
not create any major fitnah.
If this is not possible then it is legislated to pray behind
him for the benefit of the congregation and if one fears any
fitnah
by praying behind other then him. He should then pray behind
him and prevent any fitnah
by selecting the lesser of the two evils.
And
with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and
salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.
The
Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa,
comprising -
Head: Shaykh
'Abdul 'Azeez Ibn Abdullaah Ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh
'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh
'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh
'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood
Tahreem Halq al-Lihhaa - Page 24;
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa.
- Fatwa No.1640
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