Assalamu aleikum I go to a public school which demands students be clean shaven. Once when i was asked to shave at the school gate, i got a bit upset and angry and i vowed to Allah that as soon as i leave this school for good , wnever that may be, that i would from that day never clip,cut,trim or do anything to my beard and would let it grow untouched. Now, i cant say that this vow was made under a state of anger and excitement because several times after this incedent also i reaffirmed my vow to Allah, since i thought it was the right thing to do. Is such a vow acceptable in Islam? Since i live in a non-muslim country , a fully bearded man may be deprived certain privileges at times. This does not bother me all that much much it occationally makes me think if i will be able to keep upto my vow. What do you think i should do? Is there any reward for a person who keeps firm to his vow to Allah in the midst of tests,hostilities and hardships? Awaiting your advice. Assalamu aleikum.

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 have already issued Fatwa 84474 clarifying that it is forbidden to shave the beard and that it is an obligation to let it to grow freely.

Therefore, it is an obligation to let the beard to grow and not to shave it, and it is known that making a vow about something which is already an obligation is not valid according to the view of the majority of the scholars because making a vow is obliging oneself to do something, and it is not acceptable in principle to make a vow to fulfil an obligation.

Therefore, if you made a vow to keep your beard grow, your vow is not valid because it is already an obligation to let the beard grow, and it is not permissible for you to shave it or trim it if it is less than a fist's length, as this is against the order of the Prophet to let it grow.

However, some jurists are of the view that making a vow about something which is already an obligation is effective, and the one who does not fulfil his vow is obliged to expiate for breaking his vow. For more benefit on expiating for breaking a vow, please refer to Fatwa 82101.