Cutting the hair directly beneath the lips

Is it permissible for a man to shave the hair directly beneath the lips?

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

In many ahadith, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) ordered Muslim men to grow their beards. Consider the following hadith:

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Be different than the polytheist; trim your moustache and grow your beard.” 

(Bukhari)

Based on the aforementioned hadith and many others similar to it, it is impermissible to shave the beard. Since the hair directly beneath the lips (known as the soul patch) is part of the beard, it would be impermissible to shave it. However, it is permissible to shave the hair on the sides of the soul patch (which connects to the moustache), as it is not considered to be part of the beard.

 والله اعلم

Allah Knows best.

Approved by: Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani