Beard

Definition

The Arabic word for beard is lihyah. It derives from lahy (jaw) and lahyan (the two jaws). Thus, a beard is defined as the hair that grows on the cheeks and jaws- [Al-Qamus ul-Muhit by al Fayruzabadi, and Lisan ul-Arab by Ibn Manzur]. It includes the hair that grows on the temples, underneath the lower lip, the hair of the chin, and the hair that grows on the lower side of the jaws.

Ruling

Growing the beard is wajib (mandatory) for all males who are capable of doing so. As will be presented below, there is ample evidence for this in the Sunnah, and it is the unanimous opinion of the ‘ulama’ of Islam.

Position of the Scholars

All the ‘ulama’ (scholars) of as-Salaf us-Salih (the Righteous early Muslims), including the Four Imams, agree that shaving the beard is haram (prohibited). They consider shaving it an impermissible mutilation, as has been reported from Umar Bin Abdul Aziz- [At-Tarikh by Ibn Asakir]. They
considered the man who shaved his beard effeminate. Many of them would not accept his testimony or allow him to lead the prayers.

THE HANAFIS

According to the Hanafis:

“It is prohibited for a man to cut his beard ... as for cutting it shorter than a fist-length - as is done by some people from the west and by the effeminate men - no one permits this. And as for shaving it completely, it is the doing of the Indian Jews and the Persian Magians” [Persian Magians-Followers of an old religion, possibly the same as the "Zoroastrians"] [Ad-Durr ul-Mukhtar].

Ibn-Abidayn said:

“It is prohibited for a man to cut his beard.” (Raddul-Muhtar [2:418])

THE MALIKIS

According to the Malikis:

“Shaving the beard is prohibited, as is cutting it if it causes a (clear) mutilation. But if it becomes oversized, and if cutting it would not appear as a mutilation, then it may be cut; but that would be disliked and contrary to that which is better.” [Sharh ur-Risalah by Abu al-Hasan, and the commentary on it by al-Adwi]

Al-`Adwi said:

“It has been reported from Malik that he hated shaving anything under the jaws, until he said, ‘It is from the doing of the Magians.’ And it is prohibited to remove the hair of the beard.” [Sharh ur-Risalah by Abu al-Hasan, and the commentary on it by al-Adwi (2:411)]

Ibn Abd al-Barr said:

“It is prohibited to shave the beard, and it is not done except by effeminate men.”[At-Tamhid]

THE SHAFI’IS

As for the Shafi’is, al-Imam ash-Shafi’i has expressed that it is prohibited to shave the beard [al Umm].
 Also, al-Athru’i said,

“The correct position is that it is prohibited to totally shave the beard without a (medical) problem with it.” [Sharh ul-Ubab].

THE HANBALIS

The Hanbali's agree without exception that it is prohibited to shave the beard [Al-Insaf, Sharh ul-Muntaha, etc.].
Ibn Taymiyyah stated:

“It is prohibited to shave the beard.” [Al-Ikhtiyaratul-Ilmiyyah (p.6)]

As-Saffarini said:

“It is agreed in our mathhab that it is prohibited to shave the beard.” [Ghitha ul-Albab (1:376)].

IBN HAZM

Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi said:

“All of the scholars agree that shaving the beard is a form of mutilation, and is prohibited.”[Maratib ul-Ijma' (p.157), and al-Muhalla (2:189)]

IBN TAYMIYYAH

Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said:

“Because of the authentic hadiths, it is prohibited to
shave the beard, and no one has ever permitted it.”

Appendix:
- Muhammad Al-Jibaly; The Beard between Salaf and Khalaf .P 2-4