In a society that claims to be rooted in Islam, it’s only fair to ask: how far are we actually willing to go to live by it?

 

One of the clearest and most consistent teachings of the Prophet ﷺ is the command regarding the beard. This isn’t a vague cultural preference, it is a repeated, explicit instruction found across multiple authentic narrations:

 

• “Trim the moustache and let the beard grow.”

 (Sahih al-Bukhari 5892, Sahih Muslim 259)

 

• “Grow the beards and trim the moustaches.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari 5892)

 

• “Trim the moustaches and leave the beards.”

(Sahih Muslim 260)

 

• “Cut the moustaches short and leave the beards.”

(Sahih Muslim 261)

 

• “Trim the moustaches and lengthen the beards.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari 5893)

 

Different wordings. Same command.

Grow it. Leave it. Lengthen it.

 

So what exactly are we doing when institutions, schools, workplaces, offices, force Muslim men to shave or trim their beards?

 

We are placing them in a position where they must choose between compliance and the Sunnah of their Prophet ﷺ.

And this is where the issue stops being about “grooming policies” and starts becoming something deeper:

 

Do we actually value the Sunnah, or is it something we admire in theory and abandon in practice?

 

Reviving the Sunnah is not a small matter. The Prophet ﷺ said that holding onto the religion in times of corruption would be like holding onto burning coal. The beard is not just hair, it is identity, obedience, and a visible connection to the example of Muhammad ﷺ.

 

And think about this carefully:

This is the same Prophet ﷺ who stood in prayer at night until his feet were swollen.

The same Prophet ﷺ who, on the Day of Judgment, will say: “My Ummah, my Ummah.”

The same Prophet ﷺ who cried for us, people he never even met.

 

And what did he ask from us in return?

Not wealth. Not status. Not perfection.

Just that we follow him.  

 

So if even something as clear and simple as this becomes negotiable under social pressure, then the question isn’t about the beard anymore, it’s about whether we truly understand the love he had for us, and whether we’re willing to reflect even a fraction of it back. And if we can't even do something as simple as that, reciprocate the love he had for us even a little bit, then maybe we just don't understand how much he loved us.

 

Policies that force Muslims to abandon clear aspects of the Sunnah don’t create professionalism, they create distance from identity. And in a place that prides itself on Islamic values, that contradiction shouldn’t be ignored. We don't have to follow foreign policies, norms and trends to be professional or modern.

 

It’s time for institutions to rethink what they enforce and why. Respecting religious practice isn’t a favor, it’s a responsibility.

If we want Islam to remain alive in our societies, it won’t happen through slogans.

It will happen when the Sunnah is no longer treated as optional, but as something honored, protected, and lived..

We urge the relevant authorities to take immediate action to abolish these mandatory beard shaving and trimming regulations within schools, institutes, and offices. By doing so, we can uphold the religious freedoms of individuals, foster an inclusive environment, and honor the principles of Islam that guide the lives of many in our society.

Support this cause by signing this petition and advocating for the necessary changes to respect religious practices and protect the rights of those who observe them. Join us in calling for a meaningful change that aligns our societal norms with our cherished religious values.