The Taliban are scrupulously Islamic in all this: “Ibn Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Act against the polytheists, trim closely the moustache and grow beard.” (Sahih Muslim 259c)

The Taliban have warned barbers in Helmand province in Afghanistan to desist from shaving or trimming beards.

The Taliban said shaving off beards breaches their interpretation of Islamic law.

In a report by BBC, the Taliban police said anyone caught violating the rule will be severely punished.

According to the report, in a notice posted on salons in southern Helmand province, the Taliban officers warned that hairdressers must follow Sharia law for haircuts and beards.

Some barbers in the capital of the country, Kabul have said they also received similar orders.

“No one has a right to complain,” the notice reportedly read….

During their last reign, men were required to grow beards while the women were made to wear an all-encompassing burqa, covering both their hair and face.

Music was banned to prevent the promotion of vulgarity, while citizens could only listen to religious chants.

The Taliban also banned television and cinema, and some electronic products were outlawed as un-Islamic.

The latest development suggests an imposition of former Islamic laws that governed their past tenure.

A barber was quoted as saying the Taliban enforcers keep coming to their shops to monitor them.

“The fighters keep coming and ordering us to stop trimming beards,” a barber in Kabul reportedly said.

“One of them told me they can send undercover inspectors to catch us.”…