Q: Will Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) penalize those who shave their beards and punish them for disobeying the Messenger (peace be upon him) as he said: “Do the opposite of what the Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) do; keep the beards and cut the moustaches short.” ? Is growing a beard a precondition for perfect Iman (Faith) so that Allah (Exalted be He) will punish those who shave them according to this authentic Hadith. Does a person who shaves his beard have to make Tawbah (repentance to Allah) and then keep his beard after receiving your answer In Sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills)? Or is this something optional and whoever observes it will be rewarded while whoever abandons it will not be punished?

A: All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions.Shaving the beard is Haram (prohibited) and it contradicts the perfection of Al-Iman-ul-Wajib (Fundamental Faith). Whoever shaves his beard deserves Ta‘zir (discretionary punishment) in this world and chastisement on the Day of Resurrection if he dies without making Tawbah. However, if he makes sincere Tawbah and lets his beard grow, Allah (Exalted be He) will accept his Tawbah and forgive him as He (Exalted be He) says: And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death). However, if he persists in shaving it until he dies, he is liable to be punished. Nevertheless, dying in a state of Iman; he will be judged according to the Will of Allah (Exalted be He), either to pardon or punish him.