Bombs and Beards

That`s one bearded perspective I had not even thought of! On the spot actually...people do tend to stereotype, put people in a particular category according to their attires/appearances...Haji Saabs, Moulvee Saabs, Mulla jis...I know of a recruting person who makes it a point that he does not hire any bearded men...I know women who are wary of beards....
``Not all beards have bombs hidden in them you know...`` agreed but how do we go about telling the world about it?
one way could be that once men like you decide on a beard, they don`t shave it off because of societal myopias, and by example prove that...``Not all beards have bombs hidden in them you know...``
how about tat now?

This was way funny! Can totally relate to those reactions. :)

He he the world is full of beard people - hope you can resolve your hairy dilemma.

Interesting ``behind the beard`` perspective. While the appearance one wishes to project with a beard can certainly vary (``holy man``, ``intellectual man``, ``not-feminine man``), one thing is for sure: a beard is a means to project an appearance of some kind. This preoccupation with appearances is also reflected in our preoccupation with our ``image`` to the world.

I think we should shift our preoccupation with appearances to substance. That is much harder to do than merely growing a beard or wearing hijab.

SaimaShah, thanks for liking. There are more than one causes for a man to grow a beard. It might come out of his wish to appear more masculine and mature, as is the case with young men entering their twenties. The more religiously inclined lot usually couple their wish to be macho with the inner desire to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and end up with something which transforms them into neighborhood Molvee Sahabs. Societal influence also plays a major role in appreciating or discouraging the religious inclination of a person, and in a country like the Islamic Republic of Pakistan appreciation of the young Muslim is a lot more common, ignoring the fact that he might not have chosen the religious track in the first place, and could be unnecessarily forced into doing something where his mind might not be capable of functioning effectively. Maybe that is why our religious leaders are often considered ignorant and narrow minded with no knowledge of matters foreign to their perspectives.

Unshaven men are more palatable? Ah, thats a relief! :-)

aaisha, the world is becoming more hostile against bearded men everyday... not that they`re pointing at them, calling them names or humiliating them in public (though I am unsure whether or not all that actually happens in the west) but the hostlity comes out in the form of lesser importance for such people and putting them on the `second priority` list where ever some sort of screening out has to be done. For example, I had to give an interview for the position of assistant engineer an engineering research institue. The stuff they asked me was about the beard... why I had it on my face, what compelled me to let it grow and keep the moustache region clean, what religious sect I belonged to. Basically they were checking whether or not the person is an extremist, because that particular research center was sensitive in that matter. Another fellow engineer who belonged to the Sipah-e-Sahaba group was asked even more challenging questions like `what would you do if a nuclear meltdown occurs exactly at Asar time, would you go for the prayer or try to save the nuclear plant`? The poor guy after a lot of thinking answered that he would go and pray. So what I am trying to say is that it becomes difficult sometimes, especially when you are planning to get yourself involved in matters where national security is given prime importance than anything else.

I do agree with you that bearded men should be bold enough to make a difference (hehe, cute) but it`s not easy to make everyone understand especially when superpowers are so good at brainwashing majority of the intelligentsia of our country.

Why bearded?

Saves time, mainly. Helps appreciate other appearances, additionally.

Mostly, have you noticed, how urbane bearded men simply seem to have higher confidence levels and risk taking abilities? Look around, the explorers, the thinkers, the change merchants . . .

As for sandwiches in ziplock bags, they also tend to taste the same after a while. Whereas, fresh and rough around the edges, a new experience, every time . . .

I am very careful with people who wear beards - they could be very unpredictable.

veeresh

lemme guess.......and you have a beard. right? A half-bald (aadha ganja) friend of mine has similar views about himself.

quite true and funny... i had a beard for a while, cause i was lazy, took it off later... the reactions def are diff... south asian ppl esp, think ur `holy`

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Re #7 by Azure

“but it`s not easy to make everyone understand especially when superpowers are so good at brainwashing majority of the intelligentsia of our country.”
What good do such intelligentsia are then? Gullible enough to ingest anything thrown their way by the West (read US)
abt national security issues vs religious duties...I think it was nothing but the bias of the interviewers that made them ask such a stupid question. Of course when there is an emergency situation, everyone would rush off to attend to it. Surely the rights of fellow human beings would take priority over the rights of Allah. A prayer missed in not that big a deal but if you leave your duty and in your absence something catastrophic happens, you would be accountable in thw world`s as well as Allah`s court for it.

waisay..a clean shaven guy can be oh-so-boring. not that id prefer a bearded man either. stubble is good.. a french beard is better.

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts