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Plucking out the white hair of the beard

Question

Can a Muslim pluck out the white hair of his beard? Please do reply.

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

It is dislikeable to pluck out grey hair from the head or beard as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Do not pluck out any white hair [from your head or beard], as there is no Muslim whose hair becomes grey in Islam [while he is a Muslim] except that it will be a light for him on the Day of Resurrection." [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi] Moreover, Anas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said: "We used to dislike for a man to pluck out white hair from his head or his beard." [Muslim] Indeed, Ibn Qudaamah may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: 'It is disliked to pluck out white hair.' Additionally, Imaam An-Nawawi may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: 'It would not be strange to say that it is forbidden to pluck out white hair from one's head or beard because of the existence of a clear text on it that it is disliked; and there is no difference between taking the white hair off the head or beard.'

The Shaafi'ee, Maaliki and Hanbali schools and other scholars are of the view that it is disliked to pluck out grey hair [from one's head or beard] because of the existence of the above narration.

Allaah Knows best.

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