I would like to know whether the trimming or completely shaving of beard is allowed or no. I have read in one of your Fatwaas that it is Haraam to shave the beard. But I have seen many Egyptian Ulamah and Qaaris without beard or some having small beards like French, etc. Is the keeping of French beard allowed in Islam? I want to know why many Ulamah too not keep the beard. Egyptian scholars are also known one of the best in the world. I would also like to know which is the biggest and the best Islamic university among Al-Azhar of Egypt and Islamic university of Madeenah?

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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

According to the majority of the scholars it is forbidden to shave the beard, and some of them are of the view that there is a consensus among the scholars on this issue. However, the late jurists of the Shaafi'ee school, are of the opinion that shaving the beard is disliked and not forbidden. It seems that a group of scholars of Al-Azhar University and others act according to this opinion. As regards trimming what is beyond the length of a fist, then this is not disliked according to the majority of the scholars. Indeed it is confirmed that a number of companions used to trim whatever exceeded the length of a fist. There is also no harm to trim the unusual and irregular hair of the beard that causes a bad look to the person. So this matter should be taken at ease.

You have to know that Al-Azhar and the Islamic University of Al-Madeenah are sources of knowledge and many students graduated from them, so there is no need of making a comparison between them. However, the Islamic university has the excellence of being in the town of the Prophet and it is neighbouring the Prophet's mosque. The students in this university have the opportunity of performing the prayer in this mosque and benefit from the lectures and circles of knowledge that are held there.  

Allaah Knows best.