[Q-ID0820] Doctor is asked to reduce size of his beard due to COVID19, is this allowed?
Question
What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: My cousin works as a doctor in England for the NHS who deals with COVID-19 patients, and the management there told him to shorten his beard so that it is easier to wear a mask. What is the Islamic ruling regarding this? Questioner: Bilal from UK
Answer
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
The minimum length of the beard being a fistful is Wājib, and to shave or trim it less than this is impermissible and Harām [i.e. unlawful]. And my master, A’lāhadrat, the Imām of the Ahl al-Sunnah, the respected Mawlānā Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān – may Allāh have mercy upon him – states, ‘Not reducing the beard less than the stipulated length by Islamic Law is Wājib, and it is amongst the continuous Sunnahs [i.e. regular blessed practises] of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ and the Noble Prophets – upon whom be peace – and the signs of Islām; and contradicting this is prohibited & Harām, and a sign of non-Muslims.’
[Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, vol. 22, p. 571]
Hence, you should mention to him to tell them that a beard holds the rank & status of being Wājib [necessary] in my religion; and if they do not accept and say to leave the job – and there is a strong fear of not being able to find another job, or there is a fear of life to oneself or the patient, just as the circumstances and conditions of today are, that there are less doctors to deal with COVID-19 than patients, then one may be permitted to reduce the beard to such an extent that one is able to wear that particular kind of mask. Such a need will certainly make the impermissible permissible;
“الضرورات تبیح المحظورات”
“Constraints make the impermissible permissible.”
[al-Ashbāh wa al-Nazhā’ir, vol. 1, ch. 1, rule 5, p. 118]
And it is stated in ‘Ināyah,
“وَالثَّابِتُ بِالضَّرُورَةِ يَتَقَدَّرُ بِقَدْرِهَا”
“And whatever thing is established due to need, it is only permissible according to that level & amount.”
[al-‘Ināyah, vol. 1, p. 215]
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali Madani
Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0820] Doctor is asked to reduce size of his beard due to COVID19, is this allowed?
