Question
Assalamu’Alaikum WR WB,
I was having a discussion with a friend. I thought if there is a person with a beard and he pretends in society that he is a very practicing muslims and yet he does a sin. Now, if a similar sin is committed by a person who hasn’t got a beard, will a person with beard be subject to higher level of Gunnah in eyes of Allah?
Are there any references from Quran or Sunnah?
Thanks.
Jazak’Allah.
Kind Regards
Answer
Growing a beard is inherent in the nature of most men. While to many it signifies piety and righteousness, Islam promotes those concepts from within the self. This virtuousness then exudes itself in various ways, including the person’s behavior and presentation. Thus, it is the belief and actions of the individual that come into play more than anything else in religion.
Beards do not make men who they are and they do not make them more pious. If a society perceives that beards are somehow holy and certain people grow them to elevate themselves in the eyes of these people then it is simply a case of false self-exaltation. In fact, they should not be so consumed with what people think of them but how they behave before God because He sees behind their masquerading beards. Taking your example into consideration, any person who sins is guilty regardless if they have a beard or not. The sin itself is the same, barring all other considerations. The only other harm that the person faking his humility places upon himself is that of hypocrisy.
In light of that, we must bring into the issue the other considerations that do have an effect on the overall matter. Any person who holds religious status or is identified by the community as a religious person bears the guilt of marring not only the image of religious people but that of Islam. They besmirch the whole religion and will have to answer for that in addition to their original crime. The crimes of the sinner with a religious identifier – be it a beard or otherwise – are heavier than other non-religious sinners.
The Qur’an does not mention beards in any religious regard but there are many ahadith (i.e. traditions) that mentions them.
I hope this helps.
God knows best.