Shaving off the beard for medical treatment

Question

Question: A certain person has developed a disease in his beard. He has been treated extensively, but there is no benefit. Moreover, the doctors say: “Have your beard shaved clean; after that your treatment will be successful.” In such a situation, is it permissible according to the Shari‘a to have the beard shaved clean?

Answer

For the treatment of illnesses, when no permissible medicine is of benefit, then out of necessity even the use of an impure (najis) and haram medicine is permitted, provided that an experienced and religious physician prescribes it, (judging) that a cure can come only from the haram thing.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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