Q: Is it permissable to trim the beard if wish to keep it tidy or your wife desires?
A: The minimum length of the beard is one fist-length on all sides. According to all jurists, it is not permissible to trim it shorter than a fist-length. Whatever is over a fist-length can be trimmed. (Raddul Muhtaar V7 P473)
Even if the wife desires one to trim the beard to less than a fist-length, it will not be permissible. Your first obligation is to Allah Ta'aala and His Rasool (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam), and thereafter to the creation, on condition that it is not contrary to any teaching of Islam.
A Hadeeth narrated by Sayyidina Imraan (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) says that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said: There is no obedience to the creation if (in it) there is disobedience to Allah. (Al Mu'jamul Kabeer V18 P177)
Prepared by: Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai