In military institutions, rules are made equally for everyone. Yes, many Muslims do not keep beard but that does not mean those who want to willfully follow their Islamic teachings to being stopped. If SC says beard cannot be grown for religious basis, then, personnel to every religion must follow this rule. Whether it is mandatory in their religion or not. Indian Military should not discriminate against anyone. Everyone has the right to follow their religion freely.
Many Non-Muslims try to teach us our religion. It is most probable that a follower of a certain religion will better know his religion than a non- follower. Rules shall be applied to everyone and not to a specific group.
In Islam, it is highly recommended to have beard and Our Prophet(S.A.W) had beard. It is Sunnah to have beard. If a believer have one, he is just following the Islamic teachings. And I hope Indian Army allows its serviceman to follow their religion freely. Yes, if some rule is applied as a standard, then it should be applied to everyone and no one should have an exception.
In short, I believe this is unjust. But it is an Indian matter.(I still worry for my fellow Muslims because it is my duty to).
Yes, there are many similar cases. In army you can grow beard but you have to take permission from your commander. But their is no specific rule for anyone that they cannot grow beard on the basis of religion. Neither does our army discriminate a specific community. The rule is for everyone. Either everyone should allowed or no one should be allowed whatsoever.
It is compulsory(as a part of religion) for sikhs to keep beard which is not the case with Muslims,Hindus, Christian etc. Period.
the Question is does the Military do not allow its personel to follw their religion freely. If the Military has some specific rule, it should be applied to everyone. And Muslims are highly recommended to keep beard. Please let us act ourselves on our religion. You should not tell what is or not in our religion unless you are one of us. It is our religion and most probably we know better than Non-Muslims of ourreligion and its teachings.
Provide source which fulfills this clause...
"Clause (b) of Regulation 425, however, stipulates that an airman will be permitted to grow hair or to retain a beard where the religion professed by him prohibits the cutting of hair or shaving of facial hair."
Considering how Islamic countries are using religion and even sects to give wrong justifications, India is doing quite good.
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 72,
Hadith 781 Narrated by
Abdullah ibn Umar says "Allah's Apostle said, 'Cut the moustaches short and leave the beard (as it is).
Allowing the beard (
Lihyah in Arabic) to grow and trimming the moustache is ruled as
mandatory according to the Sunnah in Islam by consensus[63] and is considered part of the
fitra i.e. the way man was created.
I think Wikipedia is fairly reliable for you to get some general idea. As a Muslim, we are required to have beard. Yes you do say that many do not have beard but it is also a fact that many Muslims do not offer their obligatory prayers punctually. This does not mean that you should not be allowed to have beard because a Muslim is only following his religious teachings. (i.e. if religion can be practiced freely. If not, then their is no use to argue I guess.)
