# What's with the beards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 8, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179 "2001-10-08T20:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JDM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@JDM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDM)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/1 "2001-10-08T20:28:04Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/2 "2001-10-08T20:41:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/3 "2001-10-09T00:31:06Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![heptapod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@heptapod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heptapod)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/4 "2001-10-09T01:02:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/5 "2001-10-09T04:40:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by heptapod \* > \*\*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? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/6 "2001-10-09T10:26:09Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/7 "2001-10-09T11:32:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RM Mentock \* > \*\* So, you’re saying that they just got confused about the prophet motif? \*\* We did _not_ wish to hear that, kindly leave the SDMB. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/8 "2001-10-11T22:59:17Z")
So it was OK for Atta, et al, to shave off their beards to go undercover to commit crimes? ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/9 "2001-10-11T23:24:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RM Mentock \* > \*\* > So, you’re saying that they just got confused about the prophet motif? \*\* God, I love a good pun! ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/10 "2001-10-12T00:55:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by heptapod \* > \*\*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. \*\* [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] ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/11 "2001-10-12T01:31:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by RM Mentock \* > > \*\* > > So, you’re saying that they just got confused about the prophet motif? \*\* > > God, I love a good pun! \*\* Welp, I’m officially stupid. I don’t get it. Explain please. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/12 "2001-10-12T02:53:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by RM Mentock \* > > > \*\* > > > So, you’re saying that they just got confused about the prophet motif? \*\* > > > > God, I love a good pun! \*\* > > 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.) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Harvey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@Max\_Harvey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Harvey)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-beards/86179/13 "2001-10-12T03:10:31Z")
I thought this would be about Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz. :d&r: