From `Abdul Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz to you honorable brother, the editorinchief of Arab News newspaper,
may Allah grant you success!
Assalamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)
I have read the translation of what was mentioned in your newspaper (p. 7, issue of Friday, 24/2/1984) in the religious affairs section, as an answer to the following question sent to you by a brother from Jeddah.
The question was as follows: What is the ruling on shaving the beard and mustache? Is there a specific punishment after death for those who shave their beards? Does shaving the beard invalidate good deeds and the reward of `Ibadah (worship)?
I saw that the answer issued by the newspaper was insufficient. The correct answer is to say that growing the beard and trimming the mustache is obligated by the Prophet (peace be upon him).
It was authentically reported that he (peace be upon him) said: Trim closely the mustache and let the beard grow! Be distinguished from the Mushriks i.e polytheists. (Agreed upon by Imams AlBukhari and Muslim).
It was also related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Trim closely the mustache and let the beard grow! Be distinguished from the magi.
These two Sahih Hadiths and others that have the same meaning indicate the obligation of letting the beard grow without ever cutting it and trimming the mustache. No punishment was mentioned for this case.
However, a Muslim should obey the orders of Allah (Glorified be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him), and avoid what they prohibit even if no particular punishment is specified. It is permissible for the ruler to punish those who violate the commands and prohibitions through the suitable deterring punishment that he might see, provided that it is less than the punishment of Hudud (ordained punishment for violating Allah's Law) in order to deter people from committing the things prohibited by Allah (Exalted be He) and transgressing His limits.
It was authentically reported that the RightlyGuided Caliph `Uthman ibn `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Allah fulfills through the rulers what might not be fulfilled through the Qur'an."
Those who die in this state are left to Allah's Will, like the rest of the sins. He might forgive them if He wants; and He might punish them with what serves them right for their sins, if he wants. Those sins include shaving the beard and letting the mustache grow.
Allah (Exalted be He) says: Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills
This noble Ayah (Qur'anic verse) indicates that all sins less than Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) are left to Allah's Will, which is the opinion of AhlulSunnah walJama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body), unlike that of Khawarij (separatist group that believes committing a major sin amounts to disbelief), Mu`tazilah (a deviant Islamic sect claiming that those who commit major sins are in a state between belief and disbelief) and other similar people of Bida` (innovations in religion) who followed them.
Thus, it is deduced that shaving the beard, letting the mustache grow and other sins less than Shirk do not invalidate righteous deeds or their rewards. However, they decrease and weaken one's Iman (Faith). Deeds are only invalidated through Shirk and major Kufr (disbelief), not sins.
This is according to Allah's Saying (Exalted be He): But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.
He (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), as it was to those (Allâh's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."
There are many Ayahs that stress the same meaning.
May Allah guide everyone and grant them success! May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!