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Fatwa CenterA malicious allegation and its refutation about the obligation of sparing the beard and wearing the Hijab
Question
What is the difference between Wajib and Fardh? In other words, why is there a concession to shave the beard although it is Wajib to let it grow and shaving it is prohibited, and meanwhile wearing the hijab is Fardh and there is no concession to take it off? Why is the concession to shave the beard not used for taking off the hijab? Would you please clarify the relevant opinions of the scholars in detail? May Allaah reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The majority of scholars hold the opinion that both Fardh and Wajib have the same meaning, since each means things which are binding and obligatory in the Sharee'ah. The Hanafi scholars, however, are of the opinion that they are different. According to them, Fardh is what is established with decisive evidence and Wajib is what is established with a measure of uncertainty.
Letting the beard grow is Wajib and you can call it Fardh according to the majority of scholars. The Shaafi‘i scholars, however, provided different opinions. Some of them are of the opinion that it is Wajib, as stated by the majority of scholars. Others are of the opinion that shaving it is disliked under Sharee'ah.
This clarifies that when some scholars permitted taking from the beard, this is not because the Wajib is not as binding as the Fardh. Rather, it is because they depend either on the opinion that it is permissible to trim what is beyond the length of the fist from the beard and to take from it in Hajj or ‘Umrah, or on the opinion of those who say that shaving is only disliked but not prohibited, such as some of the Shaafi‘i scholars.
Hijab is Fardh; it is to be worn by a free woman who has attained the age of puberty. You can also call it Wajib.
Allaah Knows best.
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