What is your comment on the preacher's statement that one of the reasons for criticizing committed Muslims is their eagerness to grow a beard before disciplining themselves, and is it permissible for someone who wishes to become religiously committed to delay growing his beard until he strives against his ego in other matters?

Muslims must adhere to all religious rites, as stated in the Almighty's saying: "O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely." A Muslim must act upon what he can from the teachings of the religion, and not delay the exemption of the beard under the pretext of self-purification, for this is from the deception of Satan. A person's adherence to outward rituals may be a gateway to his righteousness.

The distortion of the image of religious people due to the actions of some of them exists, but it does not justify abandoning rituals such as exempting the beard, just like prayer, among whose performers there are those who do wrong, yet it is not said to abandon it. The remedy for this distortion is to make people understand that religious people are of different strata, and by educating religious people that their deviation distorts religion. The ruling on exempting the beard remains as indicated by the Sharia evidence.

Making what was mentioned the biggest reason for people turning away from righteousness is an exaggeration, as there are other reasons, including the cunning of the enemies of religion.

Gradualism in education and teaching is important, starting with the most important then the next most important, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did in his call to the people of Yemen. However, this must be put in its proper context, so that resorting to gradualism does not become a means of wasting what can be done from the commands of the Sharia.