Can a person lead Khutbah on Friday and/or congregation Salat without a beard?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Sharee'ah demands Muslims to grow their beard and forbids them from shaving it.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81533 and 81978.

Having a beard is not a compulsory condition for the validity of leading the prayer or the validity of the Friday sermon. Unity of Muslims on the truth and right guidance is more compulsory than the matter of having a beard.

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah wrote in his letter to the people of Bahrain regarding the matter whether the non-Muslims will see their Lord or not [Majmoo’ Al-Fataawa (6/499)]: “In short, it is not my aim to discuss the matter inclusively since the knowledge has no boundaries. My aim is to make clear that this subject in not so important to be discussed largely and to involve the general public as well as scholars till it becomes a hot topic and the Muslims split into groups due to this subject.” He continued saying: “Just as the companions of the Prophet differed in opinions concerning the point whether the Prophet saw his Lord in this Life or not; they strongly refuted the other opinion so much that ‘Aa’ishah said: “He who presumed that Muhammad () saw his Lord fabricated the greatest lie against Allah even though they do not cut off their relation and do not desert one another.”

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah emphasized in another place in his Fataawa (24/163) saying: “Differences in opinions are more than to be summed up, if two Muslims whenever they disagree with each other have cut off their relations, no brotherhood or unity would exist among Muslims. In fact, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, used to dispute regarding many matters and both of them used to wish only the good. Once the Prophet said to his companions at the day of Banu Quraydhah: “None of you (Muslims) should offer the 'Asr prayer but at Banu Quraydhah’s place.” The 'Asr prayer became due for them on the way. Some of those said, 'we will not offer it till we reach, the place of Banu Quraydhah’, and they missed performing the 'Asr prayer at its fixed time, while some others said: 'No, we will pray at this spot, for the Prophet did not mean that for us, and they performed it on their way'. The Prophet did not berate any of the two groups.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The above details apply to the judicial rulings; any matter that is not amongst the principles of the Sharee'ah falls under the judicial rulings. The Prophet said: “Shall I not inform you about an act that is superior to fasting, the prayer, charity, enjoining good and forbidding evil"? They said, 'Surely, O Messenger of Allah!' He said: "Reconciliation between Muslims, as spoiling the relations is the shaver. I do not mean that which shaves hair but which shaves one's religion.” [Abu Daawood]

In a word, if you can appoint an Imam or Khateeb who lets his beard grow without any disagreement and disturbance then it is desirable; otherwise, you should perform prayers behind this man to keep the Muslims unity and exhort this man to follow the Sharee'ah.

Allah knows best.