My post is not in reply to anyone here, but just some points which i have noticed over the years about this issue and some practising Muslims particularly in the West.

Beard is important Sunnah for all men,

But, i feel sorry for those who are so shallow minded that they automatically think every Muslim man with a big beard is a good Muslim, and compare them to someone with no beard and think the latter is somehow inferior in Deen.

Its not a guarantee that person is even following the Sunnah properly, everyone has beards, he could be going home and doing some crazy "next level" Shirk!!

I do have a beard, but i also have Muslim friends with no beards and have known people with exceptionally large beards and equally large egos or bad personality/beliefs, and who the people pumped up to celebrity like da'ee status out of just broken arabic and thin air. - These same people often do not give salams or treat non-bearded Muslims with proper respect, or brotherhood. --

Also, a finer point to make, is making fun of Muslims who do not have beards or who do not practise. I have witnessed brothers give talks in which they make fun of people in the room who do not have beards, by saying they look gay, womanly etc... Making fun of people is not from the manners of the Salaf nor is it dawah.

This is a bad situation for our Muslims in the West.

- By the way, please read my post and understand what i say before replying, I am not saying anything against keeping the beard. It is the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) and he commanded it.

However one must remember Islam is not just merely Beard and Niqab. It is Tawheed and Aqeedah and other issues too.

People have habit of simply focussing and critising the outside appearance whilst neglecting the inside, the heart of the person, his/her actual beliefs..

Most of what i said is common sense and any Muslim who is basing their attitudes and personality on Quran and Sunnah will understand that we should not be judgemental or prejudiced. However, I unfortunately know some brothers and sisters who would disagree with everything here, and who look down on other Muslims who do not conform to the way they should look and behave, as if they are perfecct.