It carries an implicit instruction to enhance one’s appearance and maintain cleanliness, as though He were saying: “Allah has created you in the finest form and the most perfect outward state; therefore, do not alter it with anything that would disfigure or mar it. Rather, preserve whatever will keep it beautiful, and do not obey Satan when he urges you to tamper with Allah’s creation.”

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah has cursed the women who tattoo others and those who seek tattoos, the women who pluck eyebrows and those who have them plucked, and those who space their teeth for the sake of beauty—those who alter Allah’s creation.” [Agreed upon]

The reason for the curse—which establishes the ruling of prohibition—is stated explicitly in his words: “those who alter Allah’s creation.”

Accordingly, a man who shaves his beard for the sake of appearance is altering Allah’s creation; his inclusion in the threatened punishment is even more certain, for women have been granted a wider scope in adornment than men. Shaving the beard is effectively the same as namṣ—the removal of facial or eyebrow hair—for beautification by a woman, and it is even more reprehensible when done by a man.

Letting the beard grow is among the hallmarks of the Prophets, peace be upon them.

Earlier we explained that fiṭrah refers to the sunnah of the Prophets, peace be upon them. Allah the Exalted says: “And [remember] when Abraham was tested by his Lord with certain words, and he fulfilled them…” (al-Baqarah 2:124).