Yes, shaving a beard, specifically reducing its size to less than a hand's length, is considered haram by the consensus of Hanafi, Malki, and Hanbali scholars.
Islamic Views on Beard Shaving
The question of whether shaving a beard is permissible within Islam has varied interpretations among different schools of thought. Here's a breakdown:
Consensus Among Major Schools
The Hanafi, Malki, and Hanbali schools of Islamic jurisprudence concur that shaving the beard, particularly reducing it to less than a hand’s length, is **prohibited (Haram)**.
Shafi'i School
The Shafi'i school has a slightly different view, where some scholars within the school consider shaving the beard as detested (**Makrooh**), which is a lesser degree of prohibition than Haram. This implies that while not strictly forbidden, it is highly discouraged.
Here is a summary of these views:
| School of Islamic Thought | Ruling on Shaving Beard |
|---|---|
| Hanafi | Haram |
| Malki | Haram |
| Hanbali | Haram |
| Shafi'i | Makrooh (detested) or Haram in some interpretations |
This difference in opinion highlights that while there is widespread agreement on the discouragement of shaving the beard, some scholars have nuanced interpretations of its prohibition.
Practical Insights:
- Hand's Length: The reference to a hand's length is a common benchmark in Islamic discourse regarding beard length.
- Intention: Some scholars consider the intention behind shaving to be relevant. For example, emulating the ways of non-believers is often seen as an additional reason for prohibition.
Conclusion
Based on the consensus of Hanafi, Malki, and Hanbali scholars, and the varying views within the Shafi'i school, shaving a beard (reducing its size to less than a hand’s length) is considered either Haram or Makrooh. The primary distinction lies in the severity of the prohibition.
