PREACHER SAID BEARDLESS MEN MAY BE MISTAKEN FOR WOMEN

Islamic preacher Murat Bayaral said on a Turkish religious TV station that a long-haired man without a beard could be mistaken for a woman.

Bayaral made the comments on December 16, 2017, on Fatih Medreseleri TV, a private religious station. His message to men was blunt: grow a beard.

“Men should grow beards. One of the two body parts that separate men from women is the beard,” Bayaral said, Hürriyet Daily News reported.

He then offered an example.

“For example, if you see a man with long hair from afar you may think he is a woman if he does not have a beard. Because nowadays women and men dress similarly. God forbid! You could be possessed by indecent thoughts.”

In other words, Bayaral blamed men and women dressing alike for the possible mix-up. He warned that the confusion could lead to “indecent thoughts.”

Why the beard matters to some Muslims

Newsweek described the beard as a symbol often associated with devout Muslim men.

Some Muslims grow one to emulate the Prophet Muhammad, who is believed to have worn a beard.

The recommendation is based on Hadith, which are sayings attributed to the Prophet and handed down through generations.

Many Islamic scholars consider growing a beard non-obligatory and say the Quran does not explicitly require it, Newsweek reported.

The backlash

Bayaral’s comments drew a backlash.

The Express Tribune reported that Magdalena Kirchner, a fellow at the Istanbul Policy Center, told Newsweek: “Turkish debates on piety and modesty reoccur frequently.”

Bayaral also said a man did not need his wife’s permission to shave his beard, Hürriyet reported.