I also asked [in my dream] regarding those who destroy their beards while leaving one hair on each of the corners¹. Afterwards, they cut those remaining hairs with scissors, and it seems as if they had shaved their whole face with a razor², who permits scissors unconditionally, and Tosafot on Shevuot 2b:12. I asked whether this was a grave transgression, in which case I should protest as much as possible, or whether it is not so grave, and not worth fighting over³.

footnotes: ¹ i.e, the five parts of the beard that are not allowed to be shaved with a razor, see Makkot 20a.10 . See Siman 50, and notes there. Perhaps the style of cutting in this question is the same as the one referred to there, with a single line of hair remaining on the edge of the beard. Maimonides requires forty hairs to remain on each of the corners (Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship 12:6), but see Beit Yosef Yoreh Deah 181 for discussion of manuscripts that have 'four' instead of 'forty', and compare Rashi on Makkot 20a:10 where the minimal amount is much greater. ² On the issue of using the blade of scissors in place of a razor, see Mishneh Torah, ibid. ³ Compare Hagahot Rabbeinu Peretz on Sefer Mitzvot Katan 70, who calls those who leave one hair on their beards 'destructive infants' (בנים משחיתים)

They responded: My child! You were right to ask this. It is written in the Torah and repeated by the prophets. Even though this transgression is grave, they have repeated it over and over until they think it is permitted⁴. Leave Israel alone, it is better that they sin without intention than with⁵.

footnotes: ⁴ Cf. Yoma 86b.13 ⁵ Beitzah 30a.9