A while ago when I first started this blog, I wrote a post about why growing the Beard for a brother and wearing the Hijab for a sister is beneficial. 
I provided some proof and like every post, I was faced with criticism. To me it is what it is, if something is clear in the Qur’an and Sunnah then we should follow it. Haters? uhh well they are always going to come.
However on the other end of the spectrum, we have a problem with many Muslims today, who have a weird way of spreading Islam and encouraging people to follow the Sunnah and the commandments of Allah (swt).
To me it’s so backwards, I often see brothers with this failed method of giving daw’ah. What I’ve come to notice is some brothers and sisters only focus on appearance when it comes to Islam. So if they don’t see a brother with a beard or a sister wearing Hijab, all of a sudden that person is eliminated from their interpretation of “believers”.
Now what begins to happen is people become arrogant because all of a sudden they feel like they are too religious to give attention to a particular person or spend time with them.
Not only do they look at you like your an alien, but all of a sudden your not being invited to Islamic events or offered to pray salat in congregation just because you don’t look “religious”.
The other day we were getting ready to pray Salat, and the brothers were looking around to see who leads. One brother grabbed me and “said you lead you have a beard”. Since when did that become the criteria for leading the salat? Chill yo.
Alot of non Muslim men have beards, so take it easy. Before you give up on the potential of any Muslim brother or sister, try talking to them with sincere advice and just give them time. For different people, different experiences can change them. Don’t be so quick to jump into the deen and expect everyone to follow, it’s an evolving process and insh’Allah if the person is guided by Allah swt and is exposed to clean environments, they will be able to make a rational decision as to what will benefit them in this life and in the next.
As far as the beard is concerned, that’s not the priority. The other day I saw a Muslim brother tell another Muslim brother “Where is your beard”?, instead of offering him Salam or asking him did you pray Salat?
How do you expect people to listen to you if you have no relationship with them?
See this is the problem, people have their priority’s backwards when they call people to the deen.
So while you may think your following the Sunnah, your actually going against it. Their is etiquette in everything.
This is clear in the Qur’an when Allah swt says:
“Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knows best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.” (An-Nahl: 12)
Ahh, what a relief. I had to get this off my chest, Instead of getting all emotional, use wisdom.
In conclusion, practice the Sunnah for the right reasons and study the Seerah, don’t get all authoritative on people without properly speaking to them, you know what I mean by that.
No one is saying don’t speak the truth, but use the proper methodology. Educate, don’t Alienate!
Chill Yo Islam Yo!
This is a great post. and its so true. people do the same thing with hijab. “Oh what the heck, did you SEE what that hijabi was doing” “Or that guy is probably a good Muslim because he has a beard”
And I also agree with the people who end up becoming too “extreme” and judge others because they are not “religious”
sigh.
And lastly, Educate, dont alienate. Great quote! I’m going to use it now
[Reply]
lol good post a similar sort of thing happened to me ydai
was sort of the reason i stopped wearin a topi ppl fink ur religous and stuff..now its not like dat and my islam is between me and allah rather then ppl judging me based on a ‘hat’
[Reply]
Assalaamu Alaikum, I joined to your readers recently and this is my first comment.
Your reasons to promote beard are actually my reasons to wear hijab. I am a reverted muslim woman living in a non muslim country where there are many women wearing short scarfs or no scarf at all.
Although I do know some sisters have faced racist comments, I must confess that I never had to. Maybe curiosity, so the Dawah chance is often served!
But _this is the funny part, I have to argue constantly with hijabi sisters explaining that a non-hijabi woman is not necessarily a woman ashamed of her identity, unmodest, or desperate looking for men :/
In fact, muy mudarrisah, one of the two sisters who lead me to Islam and still teaches me, is a non hijabi, and she is a recognised teacher, furthermore, she has chosen not to wear it to not pay attention to herself. For me, she looses occassions for Dawah, but as you can see, her decission is at least as reflected as ours _your beard, my scarf can be.
Let’s be patient with our brothers and sisters, muslim and non-muslims, so The Most Patient will look to us the same way, inshaAllah.
[Reply]
Jazaku’Allah sister for your insightful comment…Welcome to Islam!
[Reply]
Mashalla brother, I appriciate your blog postings. I am a muslim who was not practicing for 16 years and embraced Islam upon learning more about tawheed in Egypt. The funny thing is once you find out something so amazing you feel the need to tell everybody about it and try to help them get back on the straight path. It is good that you are reminding us that in doing so we must pay attention to our technique, and try our hardest to preach in a good manner like the Prophet PBUH. May Allah increase us all in faith.
[Reply]
Thanks a lot for posting this! I’ve read some of your previous posts and it is very helpful. May Allah reward you for your knowledge!
[Reply]
Thank you, brother. Assalamualaykum. It was really pleasant to read this article. I have started to become a real muslim due to the influence of some good friends.
Now it is true that many ppl feel awkward to wear hijab or to have the beard. I myself was among one of them once. But now I feel more secure that I wear my hijab. To believe in da Oneness of Allah means having to submit my wills to Him only n only Him, forgetting about the modern clothes that are displayed on the television by this Jahilliayh world. I have come across a lot through it. I think the only way to overcome this problem is searching for Allah through the Quran.. what message is being conveyed…what it wants to say to us…..then we will all be able to stregnthen our faith n come over this awkward feeling of being backdated n not upto the latest fashion trend due to being a real muslim…..
We must also rememeber that since muslims around the world are being taken further away from Islam through this world which does not follow any fruitful laws that will bring forth a good sound population of pure Muslims, like the first genre during our Prophet Muhammad pbuh time, we must all work towards breaking free of this Jahilliyah world order which is trying to indoctrinate us at every point of our life, in every step that we take, there are evil clutches prevailing to drag us away from our straight path to Islam. The first genre had no such problem becuse their belief and trust was put on Allah and whatever Allah ordered they followed, without any question . There belief was so strong. Now our culture n societies are not Islamic , the rulers do not fear Allah , so we must all take careful steps forward so that we are not caught in the trap of disbelief along with the Zalimuns. Everything we do is only do gain His Mercy n fvaour, The Most High.
[Reply]
Assalamualaikum from Malaysia. I stumbled upon your blog, and it nudged my interest. Maybe this beard-judgement is not that obvious in Malaysia, but still, it happens. Of course, it’s sunnah, but not wajib. Here in Malaysia, there comes a ‘young movement’ which mostly consisted of professionals (engineers, doctors, lecturers, etc.). Of course, they’re not growing their beards 15cm long, and some had none, but they are among the people leading in dawah. Compare with some (I mean some, not all, na’udzubillah) ‘old movement’ people who had their beards long, but keep their minds closed from the world outside. The world today needs dawah, what with the negative influences on the rise, especially among so-called Muslim youngsters (this is the case in Malaysia, either through ignorance or the environment). Salam.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
February 25th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Good article. Sister (or brother?) from Malaysia The beard is wajib, not sunnah.
[Reply]
Real talk. i see people do this a lot–
the assume the non-hijabis are bad people,
all im sayin is give them time and show them
that hijab isnt that bad. and there is honestly
no point for them to wear hijab if they dont even
pray!
nice article. =]
[Reply]
As Salaamu Alaikum brother~
I just wanted to notify you of a typo…the verse you quote from is not An-Nahl (Chapter 16) verse 12…it is verse 125. I just noticed it while I was reading!
JAK for all your writings!
[Reply]
Reference: http://comparative-religion-points.blogspot
(Visit the link for more)
Comparative religion points for Christianity and Hinduism with respect to Islam:
(1) Prohibition of Alcohol:- Manu Smriti: 9:235, 11:55; Rig Veda: 8:2:12, 8:21:14; //BIBLE: Proverbs: 20:1, 23:31; Ephesians: 5:18.
(2) Prohibition of Pork:- //BIBLE: Leviticus 11:7-8; Deuteronomy 14:8.
(3) Prohibition of Usury (Interest on Money/Loan/Credit):- Manu Smriti: 11:62, 8:152; //BIBLE: Leviticus 25:36-37; Ezekiel 18:13, 22:12; Psalms 15:5.
(4) Permission for Non-Vegetarian Food:- Ramayana: 2:20:29; Manu Smriti: 5:30, 39; Mahabharata: 13:88.
(5) Veil/Head Scarf:- Rig Veda: 8:33:19; //BIBLE: 1st Corinthians 11:5.
(6) Oneness of God & Prohibition of Idol Worship:- VEDA: Yajur Veda 32:3, 40:8-9; Rig Veda 1:164:46, 6:45:16; UPANISHAD: Khandogya: 6:2:1, Shwetashvatara 6:9, 4:20; GEETA: 7:20, 10:3; BRAHMA SUTRA; //BIBLE: Leviticus 26:1; Exodus 20:4.
(7) Prophet Muhammad’s Description:- Bhavishya Purana: Prati Sarag: Parv III: Khand 3: Aday 3: Shloka 5-8, 10-27; Samveda: Book II: Hymn 6: Verse 8; //BIBLE: Deuteronomy 18:18; John 14:16.
[Reply]