Sir, you are dressing up my words.
I said, hijab and beard are in Islam, but not Islam, as Syed Moududi said, beard is in but Islam is not in beard.
I shall quote a defining Hadith from Bukhari, "Indeed religion (الدین) is easy and whosever shall adopt it strictly (يشاد)، religion shall overcome it".
IMO, Muslim clergy intentionally bypass this Hadith.
Again, religion or Ad-deen is a way. A way takes a person to a destination, but way is not the destination itself. If you just stay on the way, then highway becomes your way forever.
Understanding this is a subtle thing.
You're also playing with words and trying to confuse people. If something to do with the conduct and practices of a believer is clearly within the scriptures of Islam i.e Quran and Sunnah, then they are by definition Islam. Neglect of these things would be at the expense of your iman and quality of submission to Allah, even in some cases a nullifying effect of one's Islam.
Modernist reformers of Islam are innovators who pander to the non-believers to sugarcoat Islam to them, even if it means going against what is in Quran and Sunnah. The lack of a beard may not make you a Kaafir, but it will make you sinful as you are disobeying the Prophet and going against the fitrah. How is that a commendable action of a righteous person?
I have not heard that hadeeth, so I would appreciate a reference instead of just saying "Bukhari said". Is this the hadeeth you're paraphrasing?:
Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 38:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
"The Prophet said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights." (See Fath-ul-Bari, Page 102, Vol 1).END QUOTE"
I think you're completely misunderstanding the meaning of this narration, if this is the case. It doesnt mean go ahead and remove your hijaab and shave your beards! It is to do with going to extremes in acts of worship like praying so many rakat of night prayer that will cause you to be burned out and leave it off altogether. It's about gradually moving forward adopting the traits and deeds of a believer, but not to look back. Here is a good hadeeth to demonstrate this:
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.”
Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4240
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
If that "way" you speak of is the correct way, with good intention, a clean heart, to please Allah with fear and hope in Him, then that is success. However, I accept that religion acts is only one part of the puzzle, and things like good character, conduct and forbearance are also just as important. Without them your deeds and acts of religion could be rendered worthless. Though, this should not mean you dont do the acts of religion at all, or slacken off on them, but rather work on your character along side it.