Eastern Christianity Traditionally, Syrian Christians from Kerala wear long beards. Some view it as a necessity for men in the Malayali Syrian Christian community because icons of Christ and the saints with beards were depicted from the 3rd century onwards.
In the Bible, beards often symbolize wisdom, dignity, and masculinity, reflecting a man's status, maturity, and adherence to cultural and religious traditions. Throughout the pages of the Bible, beards serve as more than just facial hair.
Since the ability to grow a beard is a sign of physical maturity in men, it is naturally associated with age and grown manhood — as is evidenced by a study that found that beards were associated with maturity, power, and higher social status by both men and women.
The beard provides the face with protection from the elements, and a natural shield from the more delicate parts of the face around the mouth and lips. Next, prehistoric men grew their beards for protection. The thick, rich beards that they could grow were so full that they helped cushion blows to the face.
Some folks think it was to make him look more like the traditional images of gods and wise men of the time, who were often shown with beards as a sign of wisdom and maturity. It was also about distinguishing Jesus from the Roman emperors.
Augustine, commenting on Psalm 133, writes, “The beard signifies the courageous; the beard distinguishes the grown men, the earnest, the active, the vigorous.
Religions such as Orthodox Judaism, Rastafarianism, and Sikhism all prohibit haircuts, the removal of facial hair, or a combination of the two due to beliefs that hair is sacred or a gift from God.
If your motives are to glorify His work in your life (Romans 14:23), the tattoo can be an excellent conversation starter. Just as we are commanded to do all things to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), we can view the act of tattooing in the same manner.
Not surprisingly, bearded faces were rated higher on masculinity and aggressiveness. But here's where it gets interesting: The researchers also found that bearded faces were rated as more prosocial than clean-shaven faces. Specifically, bearded happy faces were rated as more prosocial than clean-shaven happy faces.
Muslims learn about the Prophet's views on facial hair not from the Koran, but through hadith - or sayings - attributed to Muhammad. One such hadith, in a collection by Muslim scholar Muhammad al-Bukhari centuries ago, stipulates: "Cut the moustaches short and leave the beard."
Some Christians such as Amish and Mennonite men, also wear beards as part of their religious practice or beliefs. There are many pagan religions that consider it important for one to have facial hair in order to express the person's religious identity.
Scholars have also suggested that it is likely Jesus had short hair and a beard, in accordance with Jewish practices of the time and the appearance of philosophers. The earliest depictions of Jesus from the Roman catacombs depict him as free of facial hair.
Additionally, facial hair has been shown to positively impact mating success in highly competitive environments (Barber 2001; Dixson et al. 2017). These observations are all consistent with the hypothesis that beards evolved to enhance fighting performance by providing protection to vulnerable aspects of the face.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul says in verse 14 that it is a dishonor for a man to have long hair; however, this passage, as with all Scripture, must be read in context.
Sikhs consider the beard to be part of the nobility and dignity of their manhood. Sikhs also refrain from cutting their hair and beards out of respect for the God-given form. Keeping the hair uncut is kesh, one of the Five Ks, the compulsory articles of faith for a baptized Sikh.
Shaving the beard is muthla (mutilation). Verily the Prophet ﷺ has prohibited muthla. The great Imam of Madinah, Imam Mâlik is reported to have said: The sin of shaving the beard is not only a kabîra (major sin), but it is also bagi (open offence).
Religions In Which Hair Is Sacred
These religions include Orthodox Judaism, Rastafarianism, and Sikhism. These religions prohibit haircuts and the removal of facial hair as they believe hair to be a gift from God.
In Leviticus chapters 19 and 21, God commands the both the Israelites and their priests not to “mar the corners of thy beards”. Why would God command this? Men having a beard was so important to God in Moses' day that they weren't even to partially shave.
“The benefit of having a beard is protection, as well as esthetics,” Dr. Harvey says. “Its good protection against wind, chafing and traumatic injury. It's also a trend, so we see a lot of men with some form of facial hair.”
The context suggests that these are specific pagan mourning practices of mutilation that God is prohibiting. And even if the word shachath in Leviticus 19:27 is referring to shaving as merely removing hair from one's face, it is prohibited only as an act of mourning.
In her 2018 book What Did Jesus Look Like?, Taylor used archaeological remains, historical texts and ancient Egyptian funerary art to conclude that, like most people in Judea and Egypt around the time, Jesus most likely had brown eyes, dark brown to black hair and olive-brown skin. He may have stood about 5-ft. -5-in.
Leviticus 19:27 Amplified Bible (AMP)
You shall not trim and round off the side-growth of [the hair on] your heads, nor mar the edges of your beard.
Muslims seek to follow the noble example of the Prophet of Islam(sa). The Holy Prophet(sa) had a beard and wore a turban, both of which were the custom appearance of men of that age and country.