and the hair of the cheeks; all of this is part of the beard. As for the moustache, its ruling has already been discussed. Allowing the beard to grow means letting it hang naturally, leaving it exactly as it is. This belongs to the fiṭrah with which Allah has created people—something innately appreciated, a mark of manhood, indeed an adornment of masculine dignity. Accordingly, it is not permissible for a person to shave his beard. Whoever does so has departed from the Prophet’s way ﷺ, disobeyed his command, and fallen into imitation of the idolaters and the Magians, for the Prophet ﷺ said: “Distinguish yourselves from the Magians—or from the polytheists—let your beards grow and trim your moustaches closely.” In earlier times people knew nothing of this practice—that is, Muslims did not shave their beards at all. Some tyrannical zealots, when wishing to punish someone, would shave his beard; yet this was forbidden, because it is unlawful to discipline with something prohibited. Still, the very fact they used it shows they considered shaving the beard a form of mutilation, humiliation, and torment.

When the unbelievers later colonized Muslim lands—Egypt, the Levant, Iraq, and elsewhere—they introduced this evil custom, the shaving of the beard. People then grew unconcerned about it; in certain Muslim countries a man who kept his beard was even regarded with disdain. There is no doubt that this constitutes disobedience to the Messenger ﷺ, and whoever disobeys the Messenger has disobeyed Allah, whereas whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah.

If someone is tried with a relative who shaves his beard, he is obliged to advise him and make the truth clear. As for boycotting him, that depends on the benefit involved: if the boycott will help him abandon the sin, then let him be boycotted; and if