an imam who shaves

[ashrafi chaman]

what si to become of an Imam who shaves his beard to less than a fist length and no longer is involved in teaching or involved in the masjid ?

[Imam]

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim,

Assalamu Alaykum,


An Imam who shaves is not an Imam. An Imam should comply with the necessary and obligatory precepts of religion. This includes the fara’id, wajibaat, sunan (mu’akkidah and ghayr mu’akkidah), he will also try his best to stay away from any makruhaat (dislikes), that may come before him. The keeping of a beard is definitely sunnat-e-mu’akkidah, if not waajib, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) expressed the importance of keeping a beard eg. khaliful mushrikina ihfush shawaarib wa’ful lihyaa’ which means ‘do the opposite of the polytheists (mushrikin), shorten your moustaches, and lenghthen your beards’. (Muslim). Also the narration of Hadrat abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) ‘jazzush shawaaribi warkhull lihya khaaliful majus’, which means ‘trim the beards and let the beards grow in opposition to the fire-worshippers (majus).

Now the literal meaning of an Imam is someone who is followed. Allah the Almighty states ‘inni jaa’iluka linnaasi imaama’, that ‘oh Ibrahim, we have made you an Imam’. Similarly, a book is also called Imam, because whatever is stated as laws in His book, will have to be followed. Allah the Almighty states ‘yawma nasi’u kullu unasimm bi imaami him’, ‘the day we call each one of you with your book’, and also ‘wa kullun ahsaynaa hu fi imaamim mubin’, ‘and we have counted everything in the enlightened book’. In addition to this, a way (path, road, street etc.) is also called an Imam, because the traveler reaches his destination, by following this path. Furthermore, the piece of string that is used to keep a row of bricks straight, when erecting a wall, is also called an Imam, but only in Persian (Farsi)- (Ruh-al-Bayaan).

From the above verses of the Noble Qur’an, we can now see a pattern that suggests that an Imam is a leading figure, that must be followed in order to reach the correct destination. In the case of the beloved Messenger (peace be upon Him) then He is the Greatest Imam. There is no Imam greater than the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him). Then it is Siddiq-e-Akbar, then Faruq-al-A’zam, then Uthman dhun-Nurayn, and then Mawla ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with All of Them).

After this, the tradition of Imamat, and khilafat began, in which the Imams inherited their Imamat, in accordance to piety, pleasure of Allah the Almighty, struggle, worship, and other great qualities, that all scholars of passed generations have possessed. This is also one of the reasons why the person who leads the prayer has to be the most learned, the one who knows the most Qur’an, the wisest, the one who is punctual in prayer, the one who complies with both the fara’id, and the Sunnah. Therefore, it is ourselves who are to blame when we select, or reject an Imam who leads the prayer. Does he follow with the above mentioned pre-requisites, or is he non-compliant? If he is non compliant then he must be removed, as he will make decisions that may lead the community to misguidance. In any case, it is those people who make such selections who will be answerable, both on the Day of Judgement, and in this world.

Prayer does not count in the congregation of a person who has a beard less than a fistful, from the bottom of the chin, up to the little finger. Such a person should be acquainted with the rulings of fiqh, regarding the conditions of being an Imam. If he is unable to fulfill his duties as an Imam, then he should be taken away from that post or position, and replaced with one who is compliant with the Sunnah. If the people do not do this, and have him upheld, or he claims that he is right although he is in contravention of the Qur’an or the Sunnah then they are the sinners, and they will have to answer for this on the Day of Judgement.



May Allah the Almighty help us to follow those Imams who were and are righteous, and help us to tackle our problems in the best way that we can.


Wallaho a’lamo bithawwaab.



M. Waseem Ashrafi.