Is it permissible to trim one side of the beard to make it uniform with the other, or to shave it due to its slow growth and varying density?
Islam has emphasized cleanliness and beauty in appearance, as is clear from the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: “Indeed, Allah is beautiful and loves beauty,” and from his disapproval of the man with dishevelled hair and dirty clothes. It must be noted that Islamic law is the criterion in this; some matters, such as lowering the garment below the ankles or shaving the beard, are forbidden by the Sharia, even though some consider them beautiful. If the beard is very long or excessively wide to the point of disfigurement, there is no objection to trimming it to restore its moderation. And if the beard hair is uneven between the two sides to the extent of disfigurement and psychological harm, it is permissible to remove what causes that harm, because “harm is to be removed.”
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/102447