Cultural practices and the upkeep of appearance around the world can often be dictated by belief. One of the oldest and most common applications of faith is the prevention or upkeep (or lack thereof) of facial hair.
Whether their religion deems it better to shave, never touch a razor, braid or dye it, below are five examples of how facial hair fits into the religion around the world.
- Beards in Islam
Sunni Islam
There are three verdicts as to a Sunni Muslim man’s facial hair: 1. beards are obligatory and shaving is forbidden, 2. beards are recommended and shaving is disliked, 3. beards are permissible, shaving is permissible.
Shia Islam
In the Shia denomination, beards are mandatory and shaving is forbidden. However, men are allowed to and should trim their beards. The total length, according to the Twelver Shia scholars, should not exceed the width of a fist.
In general, most Muslims believe it best for a man to have a beard, but what really gets interesting is what they do with them during the holidays. During Ramadan dying beards is a common practice. It is believed that the Muslim prophet Muhammad dyed his beard and hair, thus during this religious holiday, muslims all over the world dye their hair orange with henna. This most commonly occurs in Bangladesh.
- Amish Beards
In Amish culture, a beard is to a groom as a diamond ring is to a wife. Yes, they’re the equivalent of a wedding ring and specifically indicate that a man is currently married or is a widowed husband.
Up until the day they’re married, Amish men remain shaved, but when one ties the knot, he has now assumed the position as head of a family. Symbolizing his commitment to his wife and their family, an Amish man will grow his beard from the day he’s married, for the rest of his life – an Amish style beard that is.
What is an Amish style beard and where did it come from? It’s essentially just a beard with hair grown on the sides and chin of the face but never the upper lip. The reason for this anti-mustache approach to life stems back to the religion’s founder Jakob Ammann and his followers who adhered to a strict practice of nonviolence, taking a symbolic stand against their lavishly mustached German military counterparts.
- Hindu Beards
Ancient Hindu texts, varying based on the Deva that devotees follow, often promote Sadhus, Yogis, or Yoga practitioners to keep their beards. One of the most simple reasons devotees, like the Shaivite ascetics, end up bearded is because they aren’t permitted to own anything – this would include a razor blade. Often times, an ascetic’s beard grows into long locks.
- Jewish Beards
Traditionally speaking, Jews avoid cutting their beards because of the words written in Leviticus 19:27 – “You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.” This is where the classic orthodox Jewish look of sporting the locks in front of the ears and long flowing beards comes from. Opinions vary on what the law exactly entails – some say that its specifically against shaving with a single blade maring against one’s skin, thus allowing for scissors or scissor like motion (blade crossing blade) of an electric razor to be a permissible way to shave oneself. Others believe that using an electric razor is also a razor-like action and therefore prohibited.
- Christian Beards
Eastern Christianity
Among religions in Eastern Europe, Christianity has often found members of priesthood and monastics donning beards. In such countries, it has not been uncommon for religious authorities to, at times, recommend or even require beards for all male believers.
Syrian Christians from Kerala traditionally wear long beards. It’s often viewed as a necessity for men of Malayali Syrian Christian community because of the constant bearded depictions of Jesus Christ and the saints from the 3rd century AD.
Western Christianity
In contrast to its Eastern peers, denominations of Christianity in the Western world have both permitted and prohibited facial hair for clergy. In the 6th century, the Catholic church gave a decree that forbade clerics from letting their hair and beards grow freely.