السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته What is the best way to respond when a non-believer respectfully asks why Muslims wear a beard? How can one answer with hikmah, explaining it in a meaningful and thoughtful way? حياكم الله

Why not? Who said that the اصل (asl) is that men don't have beards? Actually, the asl is that men have beards, and it looks better on them. Anyway, this is different from one situation to another and depends on the person who is asking and so on. So, there is no answer that works for all.