Salaam alaikum, I think that the issue of legality and the spirituality of the shari'ah should be kept in balance here when discussing somethings. Fact is, the beard, be it fist length, more or less than this, whether the lihya means what is under the chin only, or if it includes the sides, etc, are all issues of variant opinions among the 'ulama, and even though there maybe some scholars who say a person can shave completely (I know that some say this can be done if there is some excuse like living in an oppressive regime, or illness, etc, but I personally have never heard an opinion from a scholar that said you could completely shave your face for no reason other than you want to), we have to realize and accept that the beard is one of the key images and signs of Islam. The VAST MAJORITY of ulama have said to keep the beard, and there are clear, rigidly authenticated ahadith commanding us to leave the beard grow, and shunning those who shave it. Shaving is a sign and style of the kuffaar and it has always been. The beard is also a manly characteristic, it goes against mans nature to be smoothed faced like a woman. Today some sick hearted people would try to debate that, and I understand why, since we live in an age where all issues concerning gender and sex are being intentionally blurred and skewed. Allah save us from the filth of the shaiyateen. BUT we have to understand that because a person has a beard, that does not make him pious or god fearing. Nor does it give him a right to look down upon or criticize brothers who do not have beards, as the previous person said. We should have some shame, as we are full of sins that are without dispute forbidden, and because they are hidden everything thinks that we are pious since we dress a certain way and have a beard. The reality is, the outward of people usually displays their inner state; a person who has no beard and knows that keeping a beard is important should be treated correctly, with the assumption that this person has a spiritual issue preventing him from outwardly displaying his deen. We need to befriend this person sincerely, and help them. And one thing we don't even need to mention the beard or any other exterior thing to them (meaning of appearance), as there will come a time with encouragement and closeness to the deen when this person will automatically start practicing these things, there ruh will scream for it. If a person grows a beard or does any action to please people, then this is worthless, but if he does it to please Allah, then it is something. Now, for us that have beards, we should check ourselves; are we proud of that? Does this make us think we are pious? Does this make us think we love the Prophet salallahu alaihi wa salim? Does this make us think we are obedient servants? Does this make us look down on people who don't have a beard? When we see someone who doesn't have a beard, do we think, "what is wrong with him?"? Do we feel other people's value is based on their appearances only? Maybe intellectually we dont, but do subconsciously default to having this opinion? If anyone answers yes than we have much more serious problems that must be dealt with, otherwise our destination will be a lot warmer than we thought. Maybe the one thing a person is doing wrong is shaving, but maybe they are crying to Allah every night, telling their sins and asking Allah to forgive them; maybe they never look down on anyone and feel real love for their brothers and sisters, maybe they are humble and devoted people beyond what we could ever imagine. Maybe they are malaaikah sent to test us. Maybe we should ask ourselves, is my behavior or actions preventing this person from the sunnah? Am I always frowning, am I always picking faults, etc? Basically, whenever we see something wrong in the ummah, before we think, "Oh those people," we should immediately look at ourselves and see what we are doing that could be causing this. Everyone should do this, beardwala or not. A believer is a mirror to his believing brother.