Title: Is Growing of Beard part of the Inherent nature of a Male? Question: Please let me first of all tell you how pleased I am that I've finally come across someone who knows how to interpret our Islamic tradition in the actual context of revelation and still maintain the big picture. I applaud your open-mindedness. My question refers to the growing of the beard as being part of the inherent nature of man and therefore part of Islamic practice. (I completely agree on your distinction between Prophet's (s.a.w.s) Sunnah and the Ahadith .) While I agree that growing of the beard is not part of the Islamic law (not many scholars as you are well aware would agree with us!!!) I would just like to comment on your suggestion that growing a beard is an inherent part of the male gender and is a necessary feature for distinguishing between genders. I think that the question of beard should be looked at in the same manner as you explained so well that shaping of the eyebrows in ladies does not necessarily qualify as changing what our Creator has created. There are other facial and body characteristics (such as extra layer of adipose tissue in females and different waist to shoulder ratio) which can clearly distinguish between male and female genders. If growing of the beard was indeed, as some maintain, an Islamic practice than many people from China, Malaysia and other Asian countries ,who simply cannot grow a beard because they genetically do not have any facial hair, would be in a way discriminated against. I consider growing of the beard a cultural practice among Arabs which existed before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) as we know in the reports that his ancestors followed that custom. What is your opinion on my remarks? Adis Duderija Answer: Thank you for your encouraging remarks on my efforts. May the Almighty guide us all to the path of His liking. My dear brother, as beard is one of the apparent physical differences between men and women, it is, therefore, that I consider it as a part of man's nature. I fully agree with you that there are a few other apparent and physical differences between men and women. However, it automatically implies that each of these distinctive features is a part of the inherent nature of men and women and that altering any of these features shall fall in the same category as completely shaving one's beard. You write: I think that the question of beard should be looked at in the same manner as you explained so well that shaping of the eyebrows in ladies does not necessarily qualify as changing what our Creator has created. I would consider trimming and shaping of one's beard to belong to the same category as the one you have referred to. However, in my opinion, shaving one's beard completely should be compared to completely shaving the eyebrows, which, in my understanding, is equally abhorrent. I do acknowledge that there can exist a difference of opinion in such matters, which may lead to differences in practice. Nevertheless, the important thing is to understand the other's opinion and to keep our minds open for it. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad November 14, 2001