Islam Concepts

I’m these days trying to explain Islamic concepts to people to educate them and show them what really Islam said on everyday issues. You know many people don’t have too much Islamic knowledge so they simply hear things from here and there and start implementing on them. Islam Concepts motto is to tell actual Islamic teachings to people and bring Islam’s awareness in them.

Back to topic, Today we will discuss Islamic prospective on beard, how long beard will be, any recommended style, trimming is allowed or not and some other important points.

According to Islamic scholars, Beard is considered as Wajib (Mandatory) to Muslims. It is known as beauty of a Muslim. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Verily, Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty”. Allah Almighty only choose best and beautiful things for us. So we should need to obey His orders, as He knows better than anybody.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Beard is the one that distinguish you as a Muslim with Non-believers. So it is a sign of righteous people.

How Long Beard Will Be:

Some people have misunderstanding in this part but Islam said really clear things on length of beard. Muslim beard should need atleast one hand, greater the better. Here are some very clear proofs on beard length.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: “Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard flow (Grow).” – Narrated Ibn Umar (R.A.) in Muslim Shareef, Hadith # 498. Same thing said in Hadith # 499, 500, 501, 449.

Tirmidhi narrated that Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (R.A) used to cut the beard which was exceeded then his hand grip.

Also all the four Imam of Islam agreed on this point that beard length should not less than one hand. So if your beard is less than one hand, it is considered as Makrooh-e-Tehrimi (close to haram).

Shave Is Haram In Islam:

Let be clear, shaving is totally haram in Islam without any doubt. Check this Hadith as a clear evidence, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Anyone who shaves has no claim to the mercy of Allah” – Reported by Ibn Abbas (R.A.) in Tibrabi. According to Scholars, “To shave off the beard is unlawful (Haram) and one who shaves his beard is legally speaking an unrighteous fellow (FASIQ); hence, it is not permissible to appoint such a man as an Imam. To say Taraweeh behind such an Imam is Makrooh-e-Tehrimi (near prohibition)” (Shami Vol.1, p.523).

I think it is very clear that shaving is haram in Islam without any doubt.

Trimming Is Allowed or Not:

If your beard is more than one hand then you can trim it. But it should not less than one hand. “Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ordered us to trim the moustache closely and spare the beard” says Ibn Umar. – Muslim Shareef, Hadith no. 449.
“Hazrat Jaabir (R.A.) said: “We used to grow long beards and only during Hajj and Umrah did we trim them to the required length (i.e. fist length).”

As I previously said, beard known as male beauty in Islam. So you can trim to get a better shape. Beard should not let grow in a way that makes a person look disgusting to people. In other words, the Muslim should make sure that his beard adds to his smartness and looks cool. But (again saying) what ever you do, it should not cut it down to less than one hand.

Misconceptions Among Muslims on Beard:

These days people are getting more and more westernized especially the youth. They follow their latest styles. But it is not good for us and Islam teachings is totally different from that.

Another thing is while argument, people agreed that beard is Wajib, but length of beard is not mentioned in any hadith, Hence, if you have bit of hair on your face, it would be fine, because it is also called as a beard – This is totally wrong.

Hopefully above proves are more than enough for any person who have any misconceptions on beard. You can read more in details about Misconceptions on beard.

Why I’m in French Cut Below:

This is interesting, you can think that I’m saying these things but in below picture, I’m in French cut so what I’m doing. Actually you are right. But the fact is I’m only 19 years of age and my beard is still not completed. It is only on chin area. So it is my natural look not custom-made. When it will complete, I’ll surely grow it according to teachings of Islam.

After a long hard thoughts, arguments, proofs and lot more in part 1 of “Is Smoking Haram or Halal in Islam”. Here is the part 2 of that episode.

We found the result from part 1 that smoking is haram so we don’t need to say more on that. In this part I will cover little advance topics like “if cigarette smoking is haram and everyone knows that, then why not any of the Muslim country ban that?” and “causes why people start smoking cigarette” and few more important points that everyone wants to know.

Causes why people start smoking cigarette:

Most people start smoking from their young life, especially in between 17-20 years. Start because they get a feeling of “grown up”. They started to test things up. They have this thing in their mind that this is just for checking, I will quit after testing but that thing continues and continues until they became chain smokers.

Second reason is, most of them start smoking in just enjoyment with their friends (as I get started), such as, If one of the friend smoke and he told to others that look, it is too cool, there is nothing wrong with it, just try once and that sort of things. I started with my friends, we have a  group of few friends, we were in college and saw 80% students smoke. One day we think that we need to test that. So we tested and found a result that it is totally an immoral activity, but after that we regularly smoke on the name of “thrill”. We were doing thrill. The most surprise thing is we all friends smoke first time in life. Back to the point, so I want to say is many people start cigarette smoking as a thrill and to show off that they are now grown up.

Another reason people start smoking cigarette is because they saw someone smoke when he depress. That type of person have the feeling that cigarette smoking can release tensions from his head, so when any tension arises, he used to of smoking cigarette but truly speaking, there is nothing like that. atleast not in my case. You are just imagining that yes, you smoked now there is no tension or yes, tension releases just because of smoking. But actually it releases because you think that it releases. It releases because your mind feels that it release.

When first time you smoke cigarette, there is very bad feeling but as you will smoke few more days, you will adjust with that flavor. Actually these smokers develop a level of tolerance and their bodies adjust with nicotine. When you addicted, if that certain level of nicotine not maintained in your blood, you will experience uncomfortable physical-psychological dependence problems. These uncomfortable feelings are classic drug withdrawal symptoms. Addictive drugs are psychoactive which create brain and nervous system dependence and lead to compulsive use. Abrupt discontinuation leads to physiological and psychological distress. The withdrawal symptoms are headache, stomach discomfort, nervousness, irritability, sweating, change in heart and blood pressure and lower excretion of some hormones affecting the nervous system.

If Cigarette Smoking Is Haram Then Why Not Any Of The Muslim Country Banned That?

As you know that the leaders of Muslim’s countries are in a deep sleep so they simply not care about these facts. They need these things for their own use and something like that. Another thing is cigarette market make a reasonable money for each and every country finance. Those cigarette companies pays a heavy tax to the governments. So why/how they ban them.

Muslim countries representatives need to understand that it is really important for them to ban these companies and ban all types of smoke addicted things if they want their sons to live a happy charming life, not life like an Ash-tray. So we expect from all the Muslim’s representatives to ban all that sort of things and save growing children’s future.

You know there are almost half of Muslims as well as the world’s population smoke cigarette and this trend is increasing day by day especially in youngsters and teenagers. The interesting thing is everyone knows that it is not good for their own health but they still smoking. Smoking is spreading like a forest’s fire. There are few countries already declared that cigarette smoking is the worst drug addiction problem for them and it is still growing in their men and women.

Now the question arises that “Is smoking haram or halal in Islam?”. Actually on this issue there are many fitwahs from various ulmah who said that cigarette smoking is haram. Previously they said that smoking cigarette is makruh but now most of them said that smoking is haram. There are many reasons to believe in that concept, I’ll come to these in a while but first I like to mention some of the things that prove scientifically that cigarette smoking is way more dangerous for us then our expectations.

Scientific reasons to avoid cigarette:

According to a leading health research institute of the world, WHO (World Health Organization), They said that smoking is really a part of these things as stated below. They proved these points that

• More than 1 million people who only die each year just because of cigarette smoking.
• Out of 95% of people who die each year due to lungs cancer is because of cigarette smoking.
• Out of 70% of people who die because of lungs disease known as Bronchitis is because of smoke cigarette.
• Smoking cigarette is nothing but smoke poisoning.

The chemicals in cigarette like most of the other drugs hits chemistry of nervous system, our brain and create dependence and lead to compulsive use.

Australian government publish a report in 1977 with name “Drug problem in Australia – An intoxicated society” and it stated that “It need to recognize that smoking is a form of drug dependence, but one with especially insidious characteristics.”

The former U.S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Coop, says, “smoking Cigarette is clearly identified as the chief preventable cause of death (more than 340,000 deaths per year in U.S.A.). In our society it is a major reason of many cases of cancer, heart trouble, chronic lung and respiratory diseases and other ailments. Smoking causes more illnesses and death than all the other drugs.”

Islamic proves that cigarette smoking is haram:

You may think at this point that cigarette is haram but if you still have doubt on this then here are some Islamic evidences that will tell you the fact.

In Islam hygiene and cleanliness are emphasize to the extent that it has been consider a part of Iman (faith). It is very well known fact that a smoker’s mouth continuously spreading smell, it is unclean “like a cigarette ash-tray.” Now please concentrate on these versus and hadiths and compare them to smoking, you may well understand that cigarette smoking is haram or halal.

In holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “And forbid them what is bad.” – Surah Al-’Araf, 7:157

“0 ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling are abominate Satan’s handiwork. Eschew such abominations that ye may prosper.” -  Surah Al Ma’idah, 5:93

The word intoxicant has most likely three meanings here:

• To induce, especially the effect of ingested alcohol.
• To stimulate or excite.
• To poison.

The latter two meanings are very valid and applicable to nicotine.

Smoking is nothing but a form of slow suicide.

The Quran says:
“And slay not the life which God hath forbidden…” – Surah, Al-Isra, 17:33

“And make not your own hands contribute to your destruction.” – Surah, Al-Baqara, 2:195

“Nor kill or destroy yourselves for verily God hath been to you most Merciful.”    Surah, An-Nisa, 4:29

Prophet Mohammad said:
“Nor be hurt or injure others.” It is scientifically proven now that the exhaled smoke is hazardous to non-smokers around them. Even it is way more dangerous for his/her health then a person who is smoking at that time.

Also research shows us that the amount of money a smoker spends on cigarette smoking in a period of 30 years calculated approx Two Hundred Thousand Dollars. All this money is simply wasted, in this amount, they didn’t include the money spent on smoker’s health care.

Allah says:
“But squander not your wealth in the way of a spend thrift, verily spendthrifts are brothers of evils.” – Surah, Al-Isra, 17:26, 27

The body polluted by smoking. Hence smokers cannot pray until they have clean themselves.

According to Quran:
“0 you who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when you are drunken, till you know that which ye utter, nor when you are polluted save when journeying upon the road, till you have bathed.” – Surah, An-Nisa, 4:43

The Christians consider the human body a sacred trust given to man by God because it has the spirit breathed into it by God.

Even the Quran says
“So, when I have made him and have breathed unto him of My spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him.” – Surah, Al-Hijr, 15:29.

Hence the physical body should not polluted or injured or destroyed in any way by smoking or taking of alcohol or any type of habit-forming drugs.

Hopefully now you understand that cigarette smoking is haram in Islam and our religion not allow us to do that. Its my humble request to all of my dear brothers to leave this habit. I have to admit at this stage that I were also used to of cigarette smoking for minimum 6 months when I was of just 18 years old but I quit smoking as I found no benefit of that. Trust me it is not very difficult to quit smoking if you have will, courage and complete dedication.

If you are a chain smoker then it is really hard to quit, as I have personal experience (I was not too much addicted but still had routine) but I’m damn serious you definitely can. you will feel uncomfortable in earlier days, little restlessness and you will feel that there is something missing in you but as the time passes almost 1-2 week you will OK with that situation. and then there will a time happen when you will laugh on yourself that hahahahahaha, OO man I done it. It is not too difficult as I imagined.

There is also a second part for you as well in which I will mention to you the causes, why people start cigarette smoking and If smoking is really haram then why not any of the Muslim country ban that? Very informative discussion there, so don’t miss to read that as well at  Is Smoking Haram or Halal In Islam part 2.