[Madam Theophilus]

More realistic is that TV advertizers were responding to a trend in men’s fashion.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/beards-style-comeback-article-1.1421137

However, since you insist:

BBC: Are beards obligatory for devout Muslim men?

http://www.bbc.com/news/10369726

[Madam Theophilus]

This Huffington Post article on religious beards seems a fitting end to this thread:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/religious-beards_n_5947438.html

Cheers everyone!

P.S. Not a fan of Huffington Post but I thought the article’s ending was worth it. :-)

[Mr. K]

You’re determined to miss the whole point, aren’t you...