Should he obey his father and shave people’s beards in his shop?

Praise be to Allah.

In the answer to question no. 1190 and 8196 we have explained that it is haraam to shave the beard and that it is haraam to help someone else to do so, whether that is by opening a shop for shaving beards or otherwise. 

Obeying and honouring one’s parents is obligatory, but there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no obedience if it involves disobedience towards Allaah.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6830) and Muslim (1840). Based on this, it is not permissible to open a shop for shaving beards. You could limit yourself to shaving heads, cutting hair and trimming moustaches, without touching people’s beards. In this way you can combine two things: opening the shop and not falling into haraam. 

Your father should realize that earning a living must be done in accordance with sharee’ah, and that Allaah will bless a small amount of halaal income whereas He will erase the blessing from a large amount of haraam. You are not required by sharee’ah to fall into this sin, and obedience to your father is not binding in cases where that involves sin. 

Seek the help of Allaah and do not respond to what your father is calling you to do. Look for another job, or stay where you are, without shaving beards, and you will be given a way out, and you will be granted provision from (sources) you could never imagine, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]

Follow the example of the best of generations, the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who never put their worldly interests before their religious commitment, or any worldly gain before the goodness of the Hereafter. They would hear the Revelation forbidding them to do something that was dear to their hearts, but they would hasten to give it up. And they would hear a command that was burdensome for them, but they would hasten to do it. The people of Madeenah were farmers, and they found great benefit in some of their contracts, but when some of those contracts were forbidden to them, one of them said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has forbidden to us something that was beneficial for us, but obedience to Allaah and His Messenger is more beneficial for us.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2214) and Muslim (1548). 

When alcohol was forbidden to the Sahaabah, they did not hesitate to stop drinking it, even if the cup was in their hands, and they did not hesitate to break the jars, rather they hastened to do that. It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I was pouring date wine made from dried dates for Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarraah, Abu Talhah and Ubayy ibn Ka’b, when someone came to them and said: Khamr has been forbidden. Abu Talhah said: O Anas, go to this pitcher and break it. So I went and got a pointed stone of ours and I struck the lower part of it, until I broke it. Narrated by al-Bukhaari(6826) and Muslim(1980). 

By means of this attitude the early generation attained a level that could not be attained by those who came after them. So the Muslim should not hesitate to give up anything that he is doing that goes against Islam. He should understand that this is what is required by the faith that he has accepted for himself. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error”

[al-Ahzaab 33:36]

And Allaah knows best.