Question

I’ve heard some people say that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) never looked at people who did not have beards. Please reference the source, text and grading of this Hadith (if it is a Hadith).

Answer

Yazid Ibn Abi Habib (rahimahullah), a reliable Tabi’i reports that when the two messengers of Kisra arrived in Madinah, they had shaved beards and long moustaches.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not look at them [at first]. He then looked to them and asked: ‘Who instructed you to do this?’

They said; ‘Our lord.’ (referring to their king)

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied: ‘But my Rabb has commanded me to lengthen the beard and shorten the moustache.’

(Tarikh Tabari, vol. 3, pg. 248, with a weak chain)

Note: The words used in the Hadith are: فكره النظر إليهما  which usually translates as: ‘he didn’t like to look at them’, but since the next sentence states: ‘he then looked to them and asked…’ this gives the impression that فكره النظر إليهما  means: Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) didn’t look and actually turned his blessed face away.

This is sufficient for a true lover of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to take heed…

May Allah Ta’ala guide us all.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar