Is it permissible to grow a beard and to trim it, and do the narrations from the Salaf indicate the permissibility of trimming the beard if it exceeds a handful?

Scholars have concluded that growing a beard is obligatory, and that trimming what exceeds a fistful is permissible, unlike trimming what is less than a fistful, which is impermissible. Similarly, shaving the beard is forbidden, because the command to grow it out came explicitly in the Prophetic Sunnah, and not for the purpose of resembling Zoroastrians, polytheists, or women. Those who permit trimming what exceeds a fistful cite the actions of several Companions, such as Ibn Umar, Jabir, and Abu Hurairah—may Allah be pleased with them. Imam Ahmad’s statement, "I dislike it for men," has been interpreted to refer to facial hair in general, not specifically beard hair. And even if it referred to beard hair, "dislike" (karahah) among early scholars like Imam Ahmad often implies prohibition. As for the hadith, "The angels of the heaven seek forgiveness for the women’s forelocks and the men’s beards, saying: Glory be to Him who adorned men with beards and women with forelocks," it is a fabricated hadith and cannot be used as evidence. What is obligatory upon a Muslim in such matters is to strive to follow the truth and avoid personal whims.