Kindly respond on shaving the moustache as opposed to trimming it

Ref no: 0262#

Category

Fiqh

Title

Question

Kindly respond on shaving the moustache as opposed to trimming it .

Answer

Muhtaram / Muhtaramah

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāh wa-barakātuh.

Before going into the discussion of trimming and shaving the moustache, it should be stated that “Ihfaa” (removing) the moustache is Sunnah.

It is narrated on the authority of ibn Umar (Radiallahu Anhu) that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Oppose the Mushrikeen, lengthen the beards and remove the moustaches”. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith #: 5892).

It is also narrated on the authority of ibn Umar (Radiallahu Anhu) that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Remove the moustaches and lengthen the beards”. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith #: 5893).

From the above mentioned Ahadith it is understood that the Sunnah is to remove the moustache and not to sport a moustache.

There is a difference of opinion regarding the trimming and shaving of the moustache. The Ulama are unanimous that it is Sunnah to remove the moustache by trimming it so fine that it seems as if it has been shaved. However, there are some scholars who are of the opinion that the actual Sunnah is to shave the moustache.

This is substantiated by various texts of the Fuqahaa and Muhadditheen. Some of the proofs used by the scholars who say the actual Sunnah is to shave the moustache are:

a) Imam Tahaawi (Rahimahullah) has included a chapter in his compiltation of Hadith (Sharhu Ma’aanil Aathaar) and named it “The chapter of shaving the moustache”.

b) Hafiz ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (Rahimahullah) has mentioned in Fathul Baari that in one narration, the word “Halq” (shaving) is mentioned.

c) Imam Tahawi (Rahimahullah) says that “Halq” (shaving the moustache) is the supported view of Imam Abu Hanifah, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad (Rahimahumullah).

If one analyses the above mentioned proofs, one will find that they are not sufficient enough to prove that the actual Sunnah is to remove the moustache by shaving it as most of the Ahadith mention “Qass” (trimming), “Ihfaa” (removing the moustache thouroughly) and Akhz (clipping).

Since it is the view of some senior Ulama and Muhadditheen that the actual Sunnah is to shave the moustache, their opinion should be respected and accepted.

However, in most of the Ahadith, the word “Qass” (trimming) is mentioned. Therefore, it would be better to trim the moustache very fine than to shave it off completely. Nevertheless, whether one trims the moustache very finely or shaves it off completely, the Sunnah will be achieved.

Sheikh ibnul Humaam (Rahimahullah) has summed the whole discussion up in a very

Wise manner. He says:

“It is mentioned in the Hadith “Ahfush Shawaarib” (remove the moustaches). What is meant here is Mubalaghah (going to the extremes of cutting the moustache). In whichever way this is achieved, the Sunnah will be achieved. This is easier achieved by shaving it with a blade but sometimes, the same thing maybe achieved by a scissors if the right scissors is used”. (Fathul Qadeer).

عن ابن عمر عن النبى – صلى الله عليه وسلم – قال « خالفوا المشركين ، وفروا اللحى ، وأحفوا الشوارب » . وكان ابن عمر إذا حج أو اعتمر قبض على لحيته ، فما فضل أخذه . (صحيح البخاري، الحديث رقم: 5892)

عن نافع عن ابن عمر – رضى الله عنهما – قال قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – « انهكوا الشوارب ، وأعفوا اللحى ». (صحيح البخاري، الحديث رقم: 5893)

وأما الشارب فهو الشعر النابت على الشفة العليا . واختلف في جانبيه وهما السبالان فقيل . هما من الشارب ويشرع قصهما معه ، وقيل هما من جملة شعر اللحية وأما القص فهو الذي في أكثر الأحاديث كما هنا ، وفي حديث عائشة وحديث أنس كذلك كلاهما عند مسلم ، وكذا حديث حنظلة عن ابن عمر في أول الباب ، وورد الخبر بلفظ ” الحلق “. (فتح الباري)

وأما الحديث وهو قوله : عليه الصلاة والسلام { خمس من الفطرة : الختان ، والاستحداد وقص الشارب ، وتقليم الأظفار ، ونتف الآباط } فلا ينافي ما يريده بلفظ الحلق ، فإن المراد منه المبالغة في الاستئصال عملا بقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام في الصحيحين { أحفوا الشوارب } وهو المبالغة في القطع ، وبأي شيء حصل حصل المقصود غير أنه بالحلق بالموسى أيسر منه بالمقصة ، وقد يكون بالمقصة أيضا مثله ، وذلك بخاص منها يضع للشارب فقط . (فتح القدير)

And Allah knows best
Darul Iftaa

Madrasah Inaa’miyyah