The Taliban government’s Ministry of Morality has dismissed over 280 policemen for their failure to grow long beards, as ordered by Islamic law and Sharia. This broad move is indicative of how this regime is stringently trying to enforce religious and cultural norms.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the Ministry said it was part of a larger crackdown against what the Ministry refers to as “immoral acts.” More than 13,000 people have already been detained in Afghanistan within the past year on similar charges. This move underlines the commitment of the Taliban toward upholding the tenets of Islam reflected in Hadith and Sunna, wherein Muslim men are required to grow a beard as a sign of faith and adherence to religion.
Beard growth has been so entrenched in the history of Islam. Prophet Muhammad guided his following to have their beards. In fact, there is evidence that it was a practice meant to establish a certain religious identity and also live by the Islamic teaching. Most Muslims living in Uganda and other countries cannot maintain this and other traditions. Some find the beards too long for today’s world relevance or impractical for personal hygiene.
The maintenance of long beards has received resistance from some Muslim individuals in Uganda where the practices of Islam are diverse. Quite a number of the adherents struggle with this aspect of faith that may have huge repercussions in the afterlife if not adhered to according to these religious norms, says Hakim Watenyeri, a local Muslim.
Further complicating the complexity of Islamic adherence in Uganda is the recent report indicating over 90% of the Muslims in Uganda cannot express themselves in Arabic, the basis for fully engaging the practices of Islam. Rather sadly, one political heavyweight and wealthy Hajji, Hajji Mansa Musa, was recently embarrassed by his inability to master basic terms in Arabic during his recent visit to the Orient.
The case of Afghanistan and other issues involving Muslims all over the world bring out the dilemma that exists between adhering to religion and cultural/personal practices. The putting into practice of customary practices by the Taliban has received a lot of debate and concern, with many questions being raised regarding the limit between religious law and personal freedom.
