How authentic is the Hadith mentioned in Al-Mu'jam by Al-Tabarani: "Whoever's beard exceeds a fistful, his foolishness increases"? And is shaving the mustache severely reprehensible according to the Malikis, to the extent that the testimony of one who shaves it is not accepted by them?

Scholars differed regarding the exemption of the beard and the extent to which it may be trimmed: - Some held that it should be left untrimmed, while others deemed it permissible to trim what exceeds a fistful. - Al-Tabari mentioned that some disliked trimming the beard whatsoever, while others permitted trimming what exceeded a fistful, citing the actions of Ibn Umar and Umar. - Al-Hasan al-Basri and Ata’ permitted trimming the length and width of the beard as long as it was not excessive. - Iyad stated that it is desirable to trim the length and width of the beard if it becomes excessively large, and disliked its notoriety in terms of excessive length or shortness. - Al-Nawawi opposed this, preferring to leave the beard as it is without shortening it. - Ibn al-Qasim narrated from Malik that there is no harm in trimming what has become stray or unruly from the beard, and that it is permissible to trim it if it becomes very long. - Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked about trimming the sideburns, and he replied by permitting trimming from the beard what exceeds a fistful. It was also narrated from him that he trimmed from its length and from beneath his chin.

As for the mustache: - Scholars differed concerning its ruling. Many of the Salaf (early Muslims) were of the opinion that it should be completely removed or shaved. - Malik disliked shaving the mustache and considered it a mutilation, ordering that its perpetrator be disciplined. He held that it should be trimmed just enough to reveal the edge of the lip. - Al-Nawawi opted against complete removal of the mustache, limiting it to what reveals the edge of the lip.