Shaving one’s beard for fear of persecution
Question: 1185
A while ago, Allaah guided me and I came
back to Islam, praise be to Allaah. I let my beard grow, along with two other brothers,
and this sunnah reached some of my family members too. At home we were able to create an
Islamic atmosphere and all the sisters in the house put on Islamic dress. We adhered to
the Qur’aan and Sunnah as much as possible. Then there was some trouble in our
country, and the people turned against those who have beards and started to harass them.
They think that everyone who has a beard wants to kill people and shed their blood, but
we, as Muslims, have no desire whatsoever to kill people whom our Lord has forbidden us to
kill. My father, my mother and my family have started urging me to shave my beard. My
mother says that my father is angry with me, but I am afraid to do anything that goes
against what the Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, and I am
afraid to commit a sin.
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
Firstly, may Allaah reward you with good for following the guidance of
the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and for calling
your family to do likewise.
Secondly, shaving the beard is haraam, and letting it grow is obligatory,
as you know. Obedience to the Creator takes precedence over obedience to any created
being, even the closest of relatives. There can be no obedience to any created being if it
involves disobedience to the Creator, and obedience to any other created being should only
be with regard to what is good (ma’roof). What you describe of your father being
angry and upset because you are letting your beard grow is only because he loves you and
is afraid that what has happened to others may happen to you too. But what happened to
others was, in most cases, because of provocation on their part, not just because they let
their beards grow; it also happened to some of those who shave their beards. You must be
steadfast in your adherence to the truth, and continue to let your beard grow in obedience
to Allaah and in order to earn His pleasure, even if His creatures are angry. You must
also avoid the sources of trouble, and put your trust in Allaah, hoping that He will
provide a way out for you. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings): “…
And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get
out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could
imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah
will accomplish His purpose. Indeed, Allaah has set a measure for all things”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3] and, “…and whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty
to Him, He will make his matter easy for him. That is the Command of Allaah, which He has
sent down to you, and whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will remit his
sins from him and will enlarge his reward.” [al-Talaaq 65:5].
We advise you to honour and respect your parents, and to explain to
them with all good manners and politeness why you cannot do their bidding in this case.
Source:
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/151
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