As for trimming the moustache, the Prophet’s command (peace and blessings be upon him) to trim it clarifies his command to crop it closely. Both commands are thus observed by trimming its upper part and closely clipping its edge along the lip, rather than treating them as contradictory.

This was Mālik’s view—may Allah have mercy on him—for he regarded shaving it as disfigurement and called it an innovation. This is sound, because the continuous practice of refraining from cropping it closely indicates that the command to do so was abrogated. It is preferable, however, to understand the hadith commanding that it be trimmed as clarifying the hadith commanding that it be cropped closely. Ibn al-Qāsim disliked trimming its upper part and said: “The command to crop it closely means closely clipping its edge along the lip.”

As for the beard, it should be allowed to grow, as stated in the hadith, for it is a source of beauty. Some reports state that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, adorned the children of Adam with beards. Shaving it is therefore disfigurement and imitation of non-Arabs in this respect. If it grows long, however, there is no harm in trimming it.

Shaving the pubic hair, plucking the underarm hair, and clipping the nails are forms of cleanliness prescribed in the religion.

Cleansing oneself after relieving oneself concerns the removal of impurity. Stones suffice for this, as the transmitted reports state, but water is purer and more wholesome. Combining the two, when one is able, is better, for Allah praised those among the Ansār at Qubāʾ who did so, saying of them:

“Men who love to purify themselves, and Allah loves those who purify themselves.” [Al-Tawbah: 108]

As for circumcision, it is a means of purification in Islam and part of the practice of Abraham—peace be upon him—and his religion, to which Allah commanded adherence when He said:

“The religion of your father Abraham.” [Al-Hajj: 78]

That is, adhere to it. He was the first person to be circumcised, when Allah commanded him to undergo circumcision. It is said that he was eighty years old, and it is also said that he was one hundred and twenty, after which he lived another eighty years. Both accounts were reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) through Abū Hurayrah.

It is recommended that a boy be circumcised when he is instructed to pray, between the ages of seven and ten, and it is disliked