Can I keep a french beard?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We commend your enthusiasm at a young age in learning the beloved Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alahi Wa Sallam). May Allah Ta’ala increase your interest and love for the Sunnah.

It is not permissible for one to trim the hair along the jawbone unless it exceeds a fistful. Ulama have mentioned that it is wajib (obligatory) to grow the beard at least at fists’ length. This is deduced this from the following Ahadith of the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam);

The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) has mentioned: “Oppose the Polytheists; lengthen the beards and trim the mustaches.”

Imam Naafi’ (Rahmatullah Alayh) goes on to mention: “And Ibn Umar (RadhAllahu Anhu) during Hajj or Umrah would take hold of his beard with his fist and cut off what was in excess of that.”(Al Bukhari)

Ibn Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) said:

The Apostle of Allah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) ordered us to trim the moustache closely and spare the beard. (Sahih Muslim 259)

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: Trim closely the moustache, and grow beard, and thus act against the fire-worshippers (Sahih Muslim 260)

It can thus be understood from the above that keeping a French beard would not be permissible, as it would entail trimming the beard below a fist’s length. The most important aspect of the beard is the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). We should strive to at least adopt the outer features of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and to make our faces resemble in some way the Mubaarak and blessed face of our beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). Consider the following verse:

Translation: There is definitely a beautiful (hasan) example in Allah’s Rasul (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). [33:21

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best