What is the legal ruling regarding shortening the beard out of necessity, and is it permissible to adopt the view that considering its complete growth (i'fa') is merely a contravention of the polytheists' practice of shortening their beards, and to what extent did they shorten them? What was the description of the beards of the People of the Book and the Persians? And are the "khaddan" (cheeks/sides of the face) considered part of the beard, excluding the 'idhar (sideburns) and the 'wajnatayn (cheekbones), and what is above the 'liḥyayn (jawbones)?
If a person is compelled to shorten his beard, there is no harm in that, and he should not resort to shaving if the necessity is met by shortening, because necessity is determined by its extent. What is narrated about the Persians is that they used to trim their beards, and the Shari'ah has forbidden that.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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