Facial hair has long been a source of debate in the Islamic world, with religious and cultural implications intertwined. The Arab Spring and the election of President Mohamed Morse, along with the Muslim Brotherhood’s success in gaining political power, brought a new wave of Arab leaders to the fore – men with beards. In contrast, many military dictators have opted for large, black-rimmed glasses instead of a beard, such as former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who have both kept their Zebeebah, a small tuft of facial hair, while shaving the rest. Mustaches have also been popular among dictators, notably Saddam Hussein in Iraq, where they are commonplace. Saudi kings, meanwhile, have adopted a goatee beard style. Yasser Arafat’s softer beard was less recognizable to Westerners, who often simply thought he had not shaved.
Beards are more than just a fashion statement for many men of the Islamic faith. They can signify religious identity, and have been used to draw socioeconomic distinctions. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, many Westerners have come to associate beards with terrorism, despite the fact that none of the 19 hijackers had a beard. After the assassination of Sadat, and the coup of Al Sisi, many men with beards were arrested and subjected to torture, solely on the basis of their facial hair.
In Islam, the growing of a beard is mandatory for some men, and for others it is a matter of identity and a choice. Brother Burhan from Islamhelpline.com notes that during the Prophet’s time, growing a beard was considered normal and natural for a man. The Prophet asked Muslims to trim the mustache to distinguish themselves from pagans, leaving the details of upkeep to interpretation and religious zeal. While Western media has focused on the attire of Muslim women, such as the hijab, there has been less attention paid to the facial fashions of Arab men.
Beards have long been a symbol of devotion and power in the Middle East. For many Muslim men, growing a beard is a sign of faith and piety. During the Jan25th revolution, the streets of Tahrir Square were filled with bearded men from the Salafy (orthodox Muslim) and Muslim Brotherhood movements. The Salafy beard was rough, thick, long, and unkempt, while the Brotherhood beard was shorter and more organized. During the one-year tenure of former President Morsi, beards became popular among men of all backgrounds, from taxi drivers to shopkeepers and even some military personnel.
After the military coup, the Brotherhood beard became a symbol of resistance, and many Brotherhood members either shaved or went into hiding. In the days of former dictator Mubarak, bearded men were not as common and could be denied access to certain places. At airports, bearded men were subjected to lengthy and humiliating facial profiling.
Today, beards are still worn by many men in the Middle East as a sign of faith, power, and resistance.
Beards have become a symbol of political power in Egypt, particularly following the Arab Spring. In elections, many illiterate voters identified candidates based on the length of their beards, as officials used a pictorial ballot. This gave bearded candidates an advantage, resulting in Muslim Brotherhood and Salafy candidates dominating the polls. However, this focus on appearances was ultimately detrimental to the country, as the Brotherhood clans paid more attention to managing their beards than managing the country’s affairs. Nevertheless, beards are not just for religious or conservative figures; even those of the secular left, such as Che Guevara, have used them as a political statement.
