What is the ruling on taking from the beard, taking into account that the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, "Lengthen the beards," does not mean not taking from it at all?

The reason for the error in understanding the word "al-tawfir" (توفير) is attributing its linguistic usage in the Shari'ah to a common or recently established customary meaning, without referring to the word's origin and the way it is used in the religious texts.

The Meaning of "Al-Tawfir" Linguistically and Terminologically:

Linguistically: It indicates abundance, breadth, completeness, and lack of deficiency. "Wafara" (وفر) means to be abundant and extensive. "Waffara" (وفّر) means to make abundant, complete, and not deficient. "Tawaffara" (توفر) means to be obtained without deficiency and to be gathered. In Shari'ah: The religious texts, linguists, and commentators on Hadith have affirmed that "al-tawfir" means keeping something complete and abundant without deficiency or cutting. This is evident in the Almighty's saying: (جَزَاءً مَّوْفُورًا) "an abundant reward," meaning multiplied and complete. And in the Hadith about the beard: "وَفِّروا اللِّحَى" "Let your beards grow in full," meaning leave them abundant and complete.

Synonymous Words:

The command to let the beard grow in full (tawfir al-liha) is mentioned in the Sunnah using other synonymous words that confirm the same meaning, such as: "a'fu" (أعفوا - let grow), "arkhu" (أرخوا - let hang), "arju" (أرجوا - let grow long), "awfu" (أوفوا - fulfill/complete), and all of them mean leaving the beard and not subjecting it to shaving or trimming.

Conclusion:

Understanding the word "al-tawfir" must be in accordance with its linguistic and Shari'ah meaning, which indicates abundance, completeness, and lack of deficiency. It is not permissible to interpret the words of the Shari'ah based on newly introduced meanings or later customary usages.