salaams...there are difference of opinions on the beards...what is fard,is what is commanded by Allaah himself as in the Quran,we are given other such things,as not engage intoxication,gambling, immodesty,adultery,etc... i find it amusing to say the least, that we do not fulfil the laws of Allaah yet we can have countless debates on a beard,which does or should not negate a faith, nor should be somthing we look and say he is a better muslim then the one who does not keep a beard ...this mode of thinking is not reality,its being God concious Allah says: "O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa (God-consciousness, fearing Allah). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." [Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 13]....only Allaah knows the realities of the hearts of his servants....if we all think quietly for a while,Allaah tells us that we should use our faculties in and reason in All our affairs insha Allaah, to ponder and reflect on Allaahs ayat, "Indeed, in the skies and the earth...are signs for people who reason" (Quran 2:164); "Most surely in the creation of the skies and the earth...are signs for people who understand, those who remember Allah...and who ponder the creation..." (Quran 3:190-1); "Thus does Allah clarify for you the verses, so that you may think" (Quran 2:219); and finally, "Do they not ponder the Qur'an?" (Quran 47:24). so if we take examples from around us, we see that some muslims with abeard compared to are better in [FONT=Verdana, arial]character[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, arial][not due to beards]and some muslims without beards are better muslims by character.so what do we see..does e beard hold a magical mgnet to attract good? the reality is its our deeds and actions that speak louder to how we interact with the society around us,keeping away from what we know is harmful...if you wish to keep it due to sunnah..Alhumduillah..but actions have to follow as now you are representing the outer aspects of amuslim, but the most important part of islam is what we hold within,and what we do using those strengths for the betterment of family friends and society ...we should not look at another without a beard,as any less nor feel superiority and pride of wearing a beard,or having pride in anything else is not part of what Allaah encourages...Allaah tells us that we should not walk on the earth with pride...these are lessons we need to reflect on and make sense of...forgive me if i have offended anyone,or have come across as harsh...i just believe in learning and looking at signs of Allaah of what Allaah manifests to questions ourselves more deeply so we can see where we can be more mindful,and wiser insha Allaah..we owe our sleves this,as we Will be accountable for ourselves..we are all in the same boat and if we can help eachother,by Allaahs will..then we have understood true brotherhood insha Allaah
[/FONT]
