Reference: Silsilah Kitaab ad-Da’wah (10), al-Fataawa – Volume 3, Page 42
Question: Your excellency, my passport has expired and I want to renew it so that I can come and perform ‘Umrah and the obligatory Hajj. [The passport office] requested I shave off my beard in accordance with the new law which was recently passed in my country. So what do I do? And may Allaah reward you with good.
Response: In the Name of Allaah, and all Praise is for Allaah [alone]. We advise you not to adhere [to their request] to shave off your beard, and [rather] be patient until another time, and Allaah will make an opening for you (facilitate for you your affairs), as He (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) says:
{And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out [from every difficulty]}, [Soorah at-Talaaq, Aayah 2].
And from that which is known, the shaving off of the beard is a sin, because the Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) commanded the leaving off of beards to grow. And it is authenticated from him (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that he said:
«Indeed, obedience is in [all] that is good, [and] there is no obedience to (any of) the creation whilst committing a sin against Allaah».
And may Allaah grant everyone success.
