New Job Wants Me To Trim My Beard. What Do I Do?

[Brian]

Asaalamu Alaikum...

Brothers & sisters, I need advice. I've been looking for another job for months. I finally found one. A federal (U.S.) job with great pay and benefits.

I thought it was PERFECT, until they told me I would need to trim (not completely) shave my beard.

What should I do?

 

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

I would love to tell you to tell the feds to stick it..

However, the economy is rough. Son, you got a job..they said trim it. Trim it.
Allah subhana talla knows what we have to endure. You have a job..you are able to do more zakat now..and take care of your obligations.

A trim beard looks good..you do not need to have the unkempt nasty type.

 

[dna1987]

Assalam alaikum.

Try and ask a scholar living in the United States. He will understand your situation and the circumstances better than any Islamic scholar outside the United States.

 

[Kakorot]

It depends on what views you hold about the beard. If you believe it is obligatory then ask a scholar what you should do but if you believe it is just sunnah then trimming won't be a problem.

 

[Abdul Hasib]

Assalamu Aleykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaathuh brother Brian, how's everything?

Keeping the beard is Fard (compulsary):

Rasulallah (SAW) stated "trim your mustaches (to a short length) and grow your beards." (Bukhari, the narration is authentic)

Not touching it (in other words, cutting/trimming it) is Sunnah Mu-akkadah (Practice that Rasullah (SAW) stressed upon):

Because it was reported that, "The beard of Rasullah (SAW) was up to his chest" (Tirmizi, the narration is Sound).

And all the other great Sahabi (RA) kept their beards long, and NEVER trimmed (a small bit of) it except during few occasions (which were rare).

You can read more here:

http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72073&highlight=beard

And brother Brian, IF you (by any chance) DO cut your beard, then remember that this action is classified as Makrooh Tahreem (Disliked to the point of being Haram, and the only allowence would be a medical excuse).

If you cut it once in a while [like Abdullah ibn Umar (RA), when he use to cut it (up to a FIST length) every time he went for Hajj (meaning, once a year or once every few years)], then it is not serious (< and the narrartion of Ibn Umar (RA) is authentic, and from Bukhari), but once you start making it a HABIT (of cutting/trimming it frequently/occassionaly), then it will be something which is serious. Because when one cuts their beard, they are abandoning a GREAT sunnah of Rasullah (SAW), and by doing so, the risk is that:

(1.) They are missing out on a great amount of Ajr (Blessings from the Favours of Allah SWT).

(2.) The will have shortcomings in:

Taqwa (mindfulness of Allah SAW), Istiqamah (Steadfastness upon the Haqq), Wala' (Loyalty and Admiration to Allah SWT) and Bara' (Disloyalty and Hatred for His enemies, the Shaytan, etc.), the Noor al Iman (the Light of having Faith in Allah SWT), Sakeenatul Iman (tranquility one feels when their heart is Remembering Allah SWT).

Because of not doing this Sunnah.

I gotta leave right now, but I'll continue the discussion later, Inshallah Ta Ala.

 

[saifkhan]

Trim it, brother. The beard is a Sunna, not a mandate because there is no injunction against shaving it. That's how you can tell if a comamnd is a mandate or a recommendation.

salam alaikum warahamtu-llah

keeping the beard is Fard for every Muslim

I'm not gonna argue in this issue, insha Allah
coz I never wanned and dont want to create a awkward debate in TTI

brother abdul Hasib has explained it with references, alhamdu li Allah.

by the way I'll just tell some simple words:

whatever, Rasul salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam commaded is FARD, without any negotiation.
whatever, He salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam used to do is: Sunnah

but, there is a issue of dispute, so whenever there is a dispute, Allah gives the solution:
Sura Nisa: ayah 59

"O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result."

@brother BRIAN: try not to shave it, just trim it, Allah will consider if the situation is so, but you got to discuss some scholar. but don't be confused, that it is Sunnah, it is Fard

may Allah help you, ameen

wa-llahu ta'la alim
wassalamu alaikum

 

[Brian]

Thank you all.

After doing a lot of reading, I'm still at a standstill. So many different opinions regarding the beard. My understanding of the Hadith tell me it is an obligation.

I'm going to orientation in another 2 hours, and will discuss it with human resources. Insha Allah, they will understand. I start official training tomorrow.

 

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

No one said cut it. Trim it.. keep the job.

The intention of the heart is there. But Islam is the faith of reason.

Start the job on the right foot...once you pass the probationary period you can do incremental growth spurts...

Sons, quit...the man is trying to work..and Islam suggests that men work..and if we are in a non-Muslim environment the rules are more lax.

No stop the debating and let the man work. The knowledgeable brother has spoken.
That's Brother Ayman.

 

[faaraa]

ALHAMDULILLAH you have got some prominent answers...

You see, I too think that you can trim it..(reduce it). BUT DONT SHAVE IT YA AKHI..

MAY ALLAH AZZAWAJAL ALWAYS HELP YOU..:tti_sister:

FEE AMANILLAH

 

[thariq2005]

Wa `alaykkum salaam wa rahmatullaah brother. I really advise you to ask a scholar rather than some random people on a forum.

This is more of a specific issue than a general issue, so please find a scholar in your local area and ask him this question.

If you are going to ask in the internet you will recieve all sorts of answer, some of them very weird. There maybe people who may not even know the basics of this deen, yet giving fataawa. The internet world is one weird world.

BarakAllaahu feek
Wassalaamu `alaykkum

 

[saifkhan]

Neither do I, brother. I've just come back from the Hajj, may God have accepted it from me, and I'm no mood to argue.

If you read brother Abdul-Hasib references carefully, you will notice that they are all affirmative. None of them address the flip side. That is, does the Quran or the authentic hadeeth say anything negative about shaving the beard? No, they don't, to the best of my knowledge. Therefore, the command of the Prophet (PBUH) is a strong recommendation but not a mandate. That is how scholars of the rules of deduction have distinguished the two. Hope this helps.

salam alaikum ya akhi,

come on, I haven't pointed you brother, don't get me wrong!
may Allah accept our good deeds(your Hajj too) and forgive our sins, ameen

I know this is a matter of dispute. I respect you opinion, neither i can't ignore it or I have the right to say you're wrong
let us leave it here, otherwise saitan gonna take his chance.

JazakAllah khair akhi
wassalam

 

[zinirah]

Keep the beard....

The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) – regarding both his commands to others and his own actions – is to let the beard grow. It was proven that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded men to leave the beard alone and let it grow naturally. Al-Bukhaari, Muslim and others narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Trim the moustache and leave the beard.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5443; Muslim, 600. According to another report: ‘Be different from the mushrikeen: cut the moustache and let the beard grow.” Narrated by Muslim, 602.

Taken from : http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/48960/beard

 

[abdul-aziz]

:salam2:

I would rather see a muslim working in a nice job and become successful

than a muslim not working with a beard to his toes.

The former helps the muslims while the later confuses them. But at the end of day it all about Quran and Sunnah and their application,


that is my opinion!

do consult a sheik in the west since you are in the west, I am thinking, as these issues have been weighed and addressed. And you will gain better advise.


ps. this reminds me when I read that some ask for Allah to provide them salt for their food when it is already on their dinner table in front of them.

 

[BrotherInIslam7]

:salam2:

Just curious, but can a federal department ask someone to trim his beard ??

I thought the only time they can ask you to is if your job requires you to wear a mask as a PPE and a beard would not fit in the mask..

Surprising...

I know of a brother who worked for Schlumberger and was asked by his boss to get rid of his Sunnah beard and shake hands with women clients/colleagues (not sure if it was the company line or just personal preference of the boss). The brother refused, yet he still worked for them for around 6-8 months, before he decided to pursue his Masters education.

 

[BrotherInIslam7]

Trim it, brother. The beard is a Sunna, not a mandate because there is no injunction against shaving it. That's how you can tell if a comamnd is a mandate or a recommendation.

Even if the beard was just a Sunnah (not that I agree with your personal opinion), why should the brother give up on the reward for following the Sunnah ?

Why should we quick to get rid of actions that earn us Allah's reward and pleasure ?

 

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

The operative word the brother used is trim. It is not shaving the beard.

In most companies the dress code is to maximize an appearance that is in the interest of what the company represents.

The expression is neat and trim. No-one wants to be around a beard that is not neat and trim. Well groomed.

One does not start a war with a company. That is not good common sense. We are in the west. This is testing grounds. If you want the job look good. I have seen many a good looking brother with a neat and trim beard.

These are very though economic times. Jobs are very difficult to obtain. Encourage the brother.

Son, trim the beard. Go earn money and be self-sufficient. There is no haram in it. The Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, encouraged the sahaba to work.

And the company is not asking you to shave it..they want you to trim it.

On all the you-tube videos the sheiks have cute little beards...

( remember...you do not want to look like the hells angles..that is the image the company does not want; that is what many of these brothers are not understanding. The kind of beard that is associated within the American culture of the perpetual bad boy..motorcycling..tattooed maniac.. pagan worshiping racist ). Well groomed.

 

[zinirah]

Assalaam walaikum,


The expression is neat and trim. No-one wants to be around a beard that is not neat and trim. Well groomed.

That's very rude. You seem to be very judgmental....Don't give your opinion!!! No one cares!!

 

[alf2]

Assalaam walaikum,

No one said cut it. Trim it.. keep the job.

The intention of the heart is there. But Islam is the faith of reason.

Start the job on the right foot...once you pass the probationary period you can do incremental growth spurts...

Sons, quit...the man is trying to work..and Islam suggests that men work..and if we are in a non-Muslim environment the rules are more lax.

No stop the debating and let the man work. The knowledgeable brother has spoken.
That's Brother Ayman.

I second this opinion.
Insha Allah the brother will find peace in a solution soon.

 

[alf2]

That's very rude. You seem to be very judgmental....Don't give your opinion!!! No one cares!!

Do you see how many posts she has? Obviously some people do care. :/

 

[Aapa]

Assalaam walaikum,

I am describing a working environment in the States. If you read the parenthetical statement from my last response it would make sense.

And as a woman..the last thing I need to see if your dinner on your beard..that is rather offensive in the workplace.