but the beard really doesnt qualify as 'following' our Prophet(pbuh)..because there are people who keep a beard, but are not muslims...hence the relationship of a beard with Islam is non-relevant.
that's simple way of putting things,,, the beard as I heard the scholars say, is a means to getting closer to the way of the Messenger (pbuh). it's the sunnah which we adopt out of love for the Messenger (pbuh), and the beard is a big part of it for the men. that's the big difference between the Musilm men and non-Muslim men.