used to trim his moustache and mention that Abraham used to trim his moustache (1). Some transmitters related this from (2) Ibn ‘Abbās without attributing it to the Prophet (3).

Al-Tirmidhī (4) narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever does not trim (5) his moustache is not one of us.” Al-Tirmidhī said: “This is an authentic hadith” (6).

In Sahīh Muslim (7), Abū Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Clip your moustaches and let your beards grow; differ from the Magians.”

In the two Sahīh collections (8), Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Differ from the polytheists: let your beards grow fully and trim your moustaches closely.”

In Sahīh Muslim (9), Anas said: “A time limit was set for us concerning trimming the moustache and clipping the nails: we were not to leave them (10) for more than forty nights.”

The early generations differed over which was preferable: trimming the moustache or shaving it. Mālik said in his Muwatta’ (11): “The moustache should be trimmed until the edge of the lip—its upper rim—becomes visible. One should not shear it off, thereby disfiguring oneself.”

Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam reported that Mālik said: “One should trim moustaches closely and let beards grow. Closely trimming the moustache does not mean shaving it, and I consider that anyone who shaves his moustache should be disciplined.”