What is the ruling on a soldier standing for his commander, military salute, and shortening the beard out of respect, appreciation, and to maintain a military style?
Scholars have differed on the issue of standing up for an arrival, and the gist of it is that it falls into four categories: forbidden (mahthur), disliked (makrooh), permissible (jaa’iz), and recommended (mandub). It is permissible upon returning from a journey and for a ruler. Standing up for a virtuous Muslim—due to knowledge, righteousness, nobility, lineage, or authority—is recommended, as it is an act of piety, honor, and respect. If not standing leads to harm or humiliation, then one should stand. It is part of the that a person should not stand for themselves, and they should dislike it; in fact, it should be forbidden. As for the military salute, it is among the customs of non-Muslims and is a religious prohibition because it is a greeting by gesture, whereas the Sunnah is that greetings should be verbal. As for shortening the beard for military style, it is contrary to what is superior ( al-awla), and the utmost concession in this regard is taking what exceeds a fistful. Shaving the beard is forbidden.
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Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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