Q: A man who wears garments or trousers that reach below his anklebone and shaves his beard leads people in Salah (Prayer). Is it permissible for him to lead people in Salah? If there is a person who is more pious and better at reciting the Qur'an than this person and who grows his beard and follows the Sunnah, what is the ruling on Salah in such a case?

A: Wearing long garments that reach below the anklebone is prohibited whether they are garments or trousers. This is because the general saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), "What is below the ankles of a lower garment is condemned to the Fire (Hell)." This Hadith was reported by Ahmad and Al-Bukhari in his Sahih. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, Three people whom Allah shall neither speak to on the Day of Resurrection, nor look at, nor purify, and they shall have a painful torment: he who lets his Izar (lower garment) hang below his ankles (out of pride), he who reminds (the people) of what he gives and he who sells his merchandise by false swearing.” (Part No. 7; Page No. 375)  This Hadith was reported by Muslim in his Sahih. Shaving one's beard is prohibited. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard grow to be contradictory to the unbelievers." This Hadith was reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. It is permissible for men to uncover their heads, as heads are not included in `Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in public). But a person who lowers his garment below the anklebone or who shaves his beard should not be an Imam in Salah for a person who grows his beard and does not lower his garment below his ankle. Shaving the beard and lowering the garments below the ankle make one unqualified to be an Imam for people in Salah. But if he performs Salah as an Imam for people, their Salah will be valid if he recites Al-Fatihah well without committing mistakes in his recitation and if he is quiet and calm in his Salah. You should do your best in advising him in order that he might give up shaving his beard or lowering his garment in order that Allah may guide him. If he does not accept your advice, you should seek to prevent him from being an Imam and to replace him with another one who abides by the truth.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.