I often bemoan my inability to grow a good beard. The best I can do is sort of a thin wispiness, which doesn’t even meet under my chin. So, hearing about the “fistful of beard” rule in Afghanistan, I thought “well I’d sure be fucked over there.”
But then I thought, where did this come from? The Old Testament gives rules for beards, which I assume are the basis for the Islamic rules, but why beards?
I came up with a possible answer- some races (and I) have little or no facial hair. Could this beard thing have developed from a desire to differentiate the Habiru (and their descendants) from another major civilisation in the area at the time? The Carthinigians, maybe? Anybody know? JDM
It could be a random mutation. I have red hair - a good example. Random, and fortunately, not harmful (and maybe useful, because I and many others think red hair to be very attractive), so it stuck around.
Random genetic mutation, probably. Then again, it could be something else. I am no expert on this area. As for actual desire to differentiate one from others --unlikely. Were genetic change possible through volition alone, then the human race would be race of ten-foot tall flying fishmen.
If I remember right, the ancient rules only prohibit shaving. If your face won’t grow a big bushy beard, you’d be all right if you just let that wispiness get long.
–Nott, who had gaps when he tried for a Fu Manchu
I think that men in Afghanistan are required to have beards because all prophets had beards. I recall hearing that on CNN. I don’t have specifics.
So, you’re saying that they just got confused about the prophet motif?
OK, the guys are supposed to let their beards grow until you can get a “fistful” – what about beared women? Are they required to let them grow, too? Or are they required to shave? Or are they put to death as intolerable abberations? Or would Vice&Virtue never know, since the lady and her beard would be hidden under a burqa anyhow?
Sorry, I get silly when posting before daybreak.
We did not wish to hear that, kindly leave the SDMB.
So it was OK for Atta, et al, to shave off their beards to go undercover to commit crimes?
God, I love a good pun!
[Mother’s Voice]So I suppose if all prophets jumped of a cliff, all men in Afghanistan would have to jump off a cliff too.[/Mother’s Voice]
Welp, I’m officially stupid. I don’t get it. Explain please.
prophet motif = profit motive (the desire for profit that motivates one to engage in business ventures.)
I thought this would be about Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz.
:d&r: