1636 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The Jews and the Christians do not apply dye, so differ from them.” Agreed upon.

The directive concerns coloring the white hair of the beard or head with yellow or red. Using black, however, is forbidden, as will be explained in the next chapter, Allah willing.

Chapter: The prohibition for men and women to dye their hair black

1637 – Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “On the day Mecca was conquered, Abu Quhafa—the father of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with them both)—was brought, and his head and beard were white like al-thaghāmah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Change this, but avoid black.’” Reported by Muslim.

[Explanation]

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—states in his book Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn, in the chapter on the prohibition of imitating Satan and the disbelievers, the narration from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The Jews and the Christians do not apply dye, so differ from them,” meaning: apply dye. What is intended is the coloring of grey hair, and this is confirmed by the ḥadīth in the following chapter where Abu Quhafa, the father of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), was brought with his head and beard white like al-thaghāmah—a plant known for its dazzling whiteness.