Family is telling hubby to shave

[nunyab 0]

So Grandfather and brothers are suggesting to my husband to shave before he gets on the plane to come here. Is that really necessary? I love his beard mushallah.

I understand cause he is Muslim, has Halal meals being served so the airlines already know he's muslim but do you think it will matter weither or not he has a beard?

[SAT 9,609]

So Grandfather and brothers are suggesting to my husband to shave before he gets on the plane to come here. Is that really necessary? I love his beard mushallah.

I understand cause he is Muslim, has Halal meals being served so the airlines already know he's muslim but do you think it will matter weither or not he has a beard?

If I'm correct, in the muslim faith, the men shave their beards clean when they are getting ready to meet Allah. Perhaps his parents are think that flying is dangerous? and something might happen to him? Ergo he should be ready to meet Allah?

[maggieNomar 0]

From what you explained the other day it isn't that long so I don't think it's a big deal. It shouldn't matter at all, I agree.

[nunyab 0]

well if they think he's a terrorist they will weither or not he shaves right???

[MsMariah 0]

Seems such a shame that this is worthy of concern

I would ask my husband not to shave, but he usually shaves or keeps his beard very short and trimmed.

Praying an uneventful and easy entry for your husband.

[tenderheartusa79 14]

well if they think he's a terrorist they will weither or not he shaves right???

i guess they wont think he is terrorist cause if they think he is they wouldn't allow him to get a visa from the beginning .

i think they understand that a Muslim guy can have a beard its like the Muslim woman who is wearing hijab . do you think its necessary to tahe the hijab off before she gets on the plane ?? don't think so

[childress_london 3]

The more western he looks, the easier it will be for him, but he should do what he is comfortable with. Supposedly security is not supposed to pay closer attention to anyone due to their ethnicity/religion, but you know it happens. And of course, the passengers will be watching him closely for any strange behavior. I would also warn him to only pray in the areas set aside in the airports for that. Make sure he doesn't do it in the open. No picture taking either. Yes this is all very, very sad. Do women have to take off the hijab to go through security? I remember this being something of a controversy before.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

the women leaving casa were pulled from the line and checked closer

[sara..... 371]

The more western he looks, the easier it will be for him, but he should do what he is comfortable with. Supposedly security is not supposed to pay closer attention to anyone due to their ethnicity/religion, but you know it happens. And of course, the passengers will be watching him closely for any strange behavior. I would also warn him to only pray in the areas set aside in the airports for that. Make sure he doesn't do it in the open. No picture taking either. Yes this is all very, very sad. Do women have to take off the hijab to go through security? I remember this being something of a controversy before.

we wear hijab when we fly and we are always always always always pulled aside for secondary security checks or random security checks, and yep we have been made to take off our hijab to prove we have nothing hiding, i have seen many muslim men flying that have beard some long some well trimmed that being said i have seen many men that are NOT muslim flying with beards as well, i think it is all up to him what he feels comfortable with, we already know when we leave the home for the airport we are in for security but we would never take off our hijab in public so skate thru a airport, and im pretty sure we are in the computer as muslim anyway, as im sure he is too. i personally dont think it will make a difference one way or the other

sara

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

As sad as it is, I would have him shave

Edited January 20, 2009 by ZaidsMommy

[Aymsgirl 0]

I would say if it is a long full beard like some muslim men I would have him shave. But he needs to look as similar to his visa picture as possible. If it is just a little gotee like thing I wouldn't think it would be an issue and you really don't want him having many problems coming into the US do you? My hubby is pretty much always clean shaven and as far as I know when I seen him go through security to the xray machine on Sunday he must have cleared ok. He actually looked like a lost dog though so that may be why, they figured he has no clue as to what he is doing.

As far as praying, he isn't expected to pray when traveling so many miles away from home until he arrives, correct?

[nunyab 0]

Well after a distance from home while traveling the salats are cut in half so when he prays it will not be so long. I should mention to him to find the prayer room for that though. I wear hijab and always am pulled aside for "random" security check. I had one in Amsterdam that was the 3rd one right at the gate. The passengers were boarding and I had to prove where I had been, with whom I had been with and where I was going and my attachments I had in the U.S. Alhamdolilah I had pictures of everyone on my camera to show them but they had completly surrounded me and almost missed the plane.

And I have a U.S. passport so I don't think it matters if he has a u.s. visa and I am as homegrown American looking i think as you can get??? well minus the hijab hehehehe

[UmmSqueakster 54]

How many hijackers have ever had a sunnah beard? None that I can think of. But still, people can be freaked out by obviously muslim looking people.

My husband was clean shaven, wore a suit and carried a briefcase when he flew. He did spend most of the flight reading the Qur'an, but he had no hassles anywhere. He attributes that to his business attire.

What Tasha mentioned is a good point - don't alter too far from the visa picture.

On the beard front, the husbnad just now starting to grow a goatee after more than 3 years in the US. inshaAllah the goal is to work his way up to a sunnah beard, but he doesn't want to freak anyone out, so he's doing in gradually.

[nunyab 0]

How many hijackers have ever had a sunnah beard? None that I can think of. But still, people can be freaked out by obviously muslim looking people.

My husband was clean shaven, wore a suit and carried a briefcase when he flew. He did spend most of the flight reading the Qur'an, but he had no hassles anywhere. He attributes that to his business attire.

What Tasha mentioned is a good point - don't alter too far from the visa picture.

On the beard front, the husbnad just now starting to grow a goatee after more than 3 years in the US. inshaAllah the goal is to work his way up to a sunnah beard, but he doesn't want to freak anyone out, so he's doing in gradually.

insha'allah. I'll remind him of his visa pic and you're right i can't think of a single one with a Sunnah beard but....... hard to get that out of anyone's mind.

[Aymsgirl 0]

Amsterdam always drilled the heck out of me coming back from the ME. I swear they made you feel like you did something illegal. I don't even wear hijjab and the man left me standing there to go and chat like top secret to somebody on the phone and also to some other guards both times I was there.