Of course...

Of course, if the nature of the work is such that having the beard is going to endanger the life of that worker or others around him (e.g., if that Muslim worker is required to wear a protective mask to prevent him from inhaling dangerous gases, then the presence of facial hair will make the mask useless), then there is room to reconsider that prohibition. However, this is just an exception to the rule.

Many times, I have been asked: "Why do Muslim men keep beards?" My response is that: this question is not valid. Growing a beard is very natural and you do not need justification for doing natural things. The question "why" is more appropriate and logical for things which arc against nature. Therefore, my response is one that rephrases the question: "Why do you shave your beard?" and not "Why do you keep a beard?" 2.

Hijab or Dress Code for Women One of the challenges for a practicing Muslim woman who joins the Canadian work force is abiding by her Islamic dress code. She is required according to Islamic laws to dress modestly in such a way that she covers her whole body except her face and hands. This also means that she has to put on a scarf over her head.[^3] It is encouraging to see that major corporations are accommodating this requirement.

I have seen Muslim bank tellers working with their scarves as well as a crewmember of Air Canada with a green scarf (matching with the airline's uniform) checking the boarding passes at the Pearson International Airport of Toronto. No employer has a right to reject the job application of a Muslim woman or dismiss her from her work just because of her hijab or Islamic dress.

Based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Federal Court of Appeal in Calgary ruled in 1995 that a Sikh RCMP officer be allowed to wear his turban on the job. Therefore, it is evident that the law is in favor of those Muslims who would like to abide by their religious requirements in the workplace. 3.

Shaking Hands A practicing Muslim man or woman would avoid or refuse to shake hands with a person of the opposite sex who is not related to him or her by blood or marriage.[^4] Instead of shaking hands, a practicing Muslim will politely bow the head as a sign of respect while greeting others. This is a long-standing Islamic tradition and is based on the rules of decent interaction between the genders.