Why do Muslims and Jews wear beards?

Question

Can anyone give me where it says in the bible and the qur'an about this?

Answer 1

I can't answer for Muslims, but for Jews it comes from the Torah: Leviticus 19:27 says, "Do not round the corner of your head." Which is interpreted to keep a beard. "The Torah also forbids a male Jew from removing hair from one's sideburns and temple are (known as pei'ot ha-rosh). Actually, the sideburns merely have to be long enough that one can pull on the hair, and the beard area can be shaved with something other than a sharp blade (many people accept the use of electric shavers)."

We do not shave with sharp blades because of something called "beged eesha" which basically sets out to mean that men cannot wear what women wear. Since women shave with the non-electric razors, men cannot use the kind women generally use.

Answer 2

I cannt answer for the Muslims but from the Jewish POV

In the Torah it states you may not round the corners of your head- this refers to the sideburns (feel just above your jaw hinge, there is a protruding area there- that is considered the corner and you may not cut above that. The second issue is that the Torah forbids shaving with a bare blade- today that would be a cut-throat razor or safety razor. The reason for this is that it was done by the idolatorous priests of the time and it was forbidden as an idolatorous practice- together with scarification/tattoos etc which were also part of idol worship.

While an electric razor (either of the foil type or the rotating scissor head type like in the phillishaves) is allowed- there is a kaballistic idea that the beard represents the glory of God. For this reason, men in the chassidic sects as a rule do not shave and a large number of men in the observant orthodox and hareidi communities also follow this custom.