Student rejected

From Pelita

A report in the Merdeka daily on June 16, 1994 said that Dzikron, a student of Madrasah Aliyah (Islamic senior high school) Pungkuran, Semarang, Central Java, was not allowed to take his final examination because he had grown a beard.

To the best of my knowledge, to have a beard is in compliance with the Prophet Muhammad's tradition. According the Hanafi school, to grow beard is a must and according to Syafiite school, it is flexible.

I hope that the authorities concerned will give the necessary explanation on this matter.

H. ALWI SOFWAN

Semarang, Central Java