Why do Muslim men wear beards? Is it a must?

What’s in beard?

It's a sign of piety for many Muslim men.

Some non-Muslims, however, see it as a sign of dangerous Islamic radicalism and a reason for law enforcement to profile men with beards and even stop bearded drivers. Or a reason to kidnap and interrogate them.

Many Muslim men in Kenya, especially at the Coast, wear beards. The Prophet Muhammad is said to have worn a beard.

For a Muslim man, a beard, especially a long one, is not just a luxury but a must. 

Worldwide, however, not all Muslim scholars agree and many say it's optional. Some shave their beards.

Wearing a beard is not required by the Koran, they say, but is described in hadith, or sayings, attributed to the Prophet Muhammad.

One saying or hadith says, "Cut the moustaches short and leave the beard." This view is contained in a collection by Muslim scholar Muhammad al-Bukhari centuries ago.

A BBC article describes a range of views on the significance of a beard.

But back at the Coast, the beard is considered a symbol of devotion, and if men have been on the Haj — every good Muslim is required to make the pilgrimage at least once in his or her life — they are expected to dye their beards red-orange using henna.

"A man without a beard in Islam is no different from a woman," Lamu elder Khaldun Vae told the Star in an interview. He wears a neatly trimmed, ear-to-ear white beard.

Some men may choose short beards, he said. 

“But there must be a clear, definite beard hairline showing your masculinity. Men are not allowed to be shaven clean where all the hair is removed. There must be hair, otherwise, it’s not a beard,” he said.

A beard exemplifies wisdom, strength, virility and high social status, he said.

Vae explains that men in Islam have been commanded by the Prophet Muhammad to keep beards to be complete men and to also help tell them apart from women.

“It’s a command not an option that we must keep a beard because the Prophet himself kept one. Those Muslim men who don’t have beards are no different from women though they are men by creation,” he added.

Another reason to wear a beard is to make men more attractive.

“A man with a beard will definitely turn more heads than one without a beard. You generally are more handsome with one,” Vae said.

Human rights groups and other organisations claim the state has been targeting men with beards and linking them to terrorism.

Some bearded men have been mysteriously abducted over suspected terror links, never to be seen again.

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Police have denied targeting men simply because they have beards. 

Vae said it's important for the government and all Kenyans to understand that Muslim men have no option because their religion asks them to wear beards.

“The government has always targeted those who keep beards and linked them to crime and al Shabaab but they should know it’s actually religious for us.

Some denominations say if you shave your beard, you have committed a very huge sin and will not not be allowed into a mosque or place where men meet

"Not every Muslim who sports a beard is a terrorist. It’s wrong to make such a blanket assumption and frustrate people because of it,” Vae said.

Such assumptions have exposed bearded men to unnecessary scrutiny and suspicion, both from security agencies and the Kenyan public.

“Muslims are peace loving people who have been taught peace and how to keep it. People should stop pointing fingers whenever they see a bearded Muslim.

"I appeal to those who have no beards to start growing them. It shows you are complete as a man,” Vae said.

Lamu Muslim cleric Mohamed Abdulkadir said keeping a beard is among prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah, which are the sayings and practices of the prophet.

He said the beard requirement is so serious that some Islamic denominations do not allow men without beards into a mosque or other men's gathering places.

“Some denominations say if you shave your beard, you have committed a very huge sin and will not not be allowed into a mosque or place where men meet," Abdulkadir said.

It's even worse when you have a long beard, a kanzu and a Muslim skullcap but for some reason you cannot provide your national ID

He said Muslim men are not allowed to totally shave off their beards because they should be differentiated from women and acquire the required respect and status.

The cleric said it’s unfortunate that Kenyans have created a misleading perception where any Muslim who wears a beard is branded or compared to a terrorist.

“It is wrong to use a beard to link someone to something so bad like terrorism. We want people to understand that keeping a beard for us is a command given by our Prophet Muhammad and we do so to observe his teachings.

Terrorists have no religion, colour or tribe and anyone can be one.

Travelers using the Lamu-Garsen road have frequently complained about being profiled by security agencies at roadblocks, based on their beards.

“It's even worse when you have a long beard, a kanzu and a Muslim skullcap but for some reason you cannot provide your national ID," resident Mohamed Abiud said. But then we cannot shave"

(Edited by V. Graham)