All praise be to Allah. May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
I have read the article published in AlSiyasah newspaper in its issue no. 668 dated 19/8/1404 A.H. by Hamad AlSa`idan. He (may Allah guide him) quotes me saying some words about shaving the beard which I have not said. He claims that I have said, "Any Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) issued by me must be stamped with my seal and signed by the Ministry of Waqf." This is clearly a lie, for I have never stipulated having the signature of the Ministry of Waqf on any of my Fatwas. The writer goes on talking about shaving the beard and other matters and claims that the Hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Be different from the Mushriks (who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship); trim the moustache and grow the beard." means that men nowadays should shave their beards. The Magi, Jews, Sikh and others grow their beards nowadays and thus, as he says: "It is obligatory to be different from these sects by shaving our beards."
Be different from the Mushriks (who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship); trim the moustache and grow the beard.
He adds that "AlAzhar scholars have applied this Hadith ordering Muslims to be different from
the Mushriks and others by shaving their own beards....". No doubt this writer has exceeded all the proper limits and has behaved improperly regarding the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet). The Prophet's command is clear and must be obeyed and anyone who opposes it will have a bad end.
And let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.
The Prophet's command to let the beard grow is clear and should be obeyed at all times until the Day of Resurrection, whether Mushriks shave or grow their beards. Mushriks agreeing with Muslims in one of the teachings of Shari`ah (Islamic law) such as growing the beard does not mean that Muslims should disobey their Shari`ah. In addition, it is obligatory on nonMuslims to enter Islam and as Muslims, we are commanded to call them to Allah. Yet, if they join Islam, we are not required to abandon Islam just to be different from them. Rather, we should invite them to enter Islam and we should not imitate them in matters contradicting Shari`ah. This is a wellknown fact to all scholars. Furthermore, it is impertinent to interpret the Hadith to mean the obligation of shaving the beard just because some Mushriks let their beards grow. In fact, the writer is spreading evil and promoting it. Add to this that not all Mushriks have let their beards grow. Even if we assume that all Mushriks have done so, it is not permissible for Muslims to disobey the Prophet's command and shave their beards to be different from Mushriks. Any insightful person who has the least knowledge about Shari`ah would not say that, for this incurs numerous evils and bad consequences.
As for the writer's claim that AlAzhar scholars have shaved their beards to be different from Mushriks who grow theirs, it is groundless. If any Muslim contradicts the Shari`ah
this cannot be taken as evidence to oppose Shari`ah. Rather, it is our duty to disapprove of practices that contradict Shari`ah and warn people against following them, instead of taking these practices as evidence to contradict Shari`ah. Furthermore, many scholars have committed acts that oppose Shari`ah in some aspects either due to their ignorance of the evidence or for another reason. However, their behavior should not by any means be taken as evidence on the permissibility of contradicting established laws of Shari`ah. Rather, they should be excused on the grounds that Shari`ah has not reached them, it has reached them but not this obligation or any other excuse. The matter is discussed in details by Shaykh AlIslam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah be merciful with him) in his book "Raf` AlMalam 'an AlA'immah AlA`lam" where he explained in detail the excuses of scholars who do acts that contradict Shari`ah. You can refer to this book, for it is very useful for any seeker of the Truth.
I advise the writer, Hamad, to observe Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared) and warn him against criticizing and illthinking of Muslims who let their beards grow. Moreover, I advise him to think well of all his Muslim brothers who are keen on applying Shari`ah and following the Sunnah of the Prophet in all his sayings and deeds and to excuse them in any negligence.
O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it to insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked"]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrongdoers, etc.).
O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins.
to avoid much suspicion since some may be false. The suspicion meant here is that guessed without evidence or proof from Shari`ah.
Therefore, it is authentically reportedin the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. AlBukhari and Muslim)on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Beware of suspicion, as suspicion is the falsest speech."
"And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allâh)."
And by the Mercy of Allâh, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harshhearted, they would have broken away from about you
Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.
until the Day of Judgment!