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Fatwa CenterIt is impermissible for a barber to shave beards
Question
What is the ruling on the owner of a barber shop who shaves men's beards while he dislikes doing so; for he is not entitled to prohibit others from shaving their beards, and this is the only profession he knows? 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 
is His slave and Messenger.
There are many prophetic narrations on the obligation of sparing one’s beard; for instance, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
• "Cut the moustaches short and leave the beard as it is." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
• “Do the opposite of what the Magians do; cut the moustaches short and let the beards grow.” [Muslim]
• “Trim your moustaches and spare your beards.” [At-Tirmithi: Saheeh]
Therefore, men should spare their beards for it adds to the beauty of the face, and sparing the beard is an explicit obligation as stated in the fundamentals of Islamic Jurisprudence. Moreover, Muslim scholars stated that shaving the beard is prohibited; Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah 
emphasized that shaving the beard is forbidden. The Hanafi scholar Ibn ‘Aabideen said. “It is impermissible for the man to cut off his beard.” The Maaliki scholar Al-‘Adawi said, “It is prohibited to remove the hair of the beard.”
Hence, you must refrain from shaving beards; because it represents committing an impermissible act and involves helping others to do what is forbidden. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.} [Quran 5:2]
You can dispense with shaving beards by shaving heads and trimming moustaches; and bear in mind that whoever gives something up for the Sake of Allaah The Exalted, Allaah The Almighty will reward him with what is better. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {“And whoever fears Allaah – He will make for him a way out, * And will provide for him from where he does not expect.”} [Quran 65:2-3]
Allaah Knows best.
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