The difference between shaving the beard off completely and keeping it one finger long

Question

Question: Is there any difference between having the beard shaved off completely and keeping it one finger or two fingers long? What is the ruling on praying behind such people?

Answer

Whatever amount of the beard exceeds one fistful may be cut; before that it may not. Whoever shaves his beard, or keeps it very short — one finger or two fingers long — and does not let it reach the measure of one fistful: making him imam is makruh tahrimi. Both are committing what is contrary to the Shari‘a and are sinners; the difference is that of 19 and 20.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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