2114 — “He would command that grey hair be dyed, in opposition to the non-Arabs.”

Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Kabir, as did ‘Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi in al-Sunan (177/1), through al-Ahwas ibn Hakim, from his father, from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabir, from ‘Utbah ibn ‘Abd, tracing it back to the Prophet ﷺ.

I say: This is a weak chain of transmission. Al-Ahwas ibn Hakim had poor retention, while his father, Hakim ibn ‘Umayr, was truthful but prone to error.

It has a corroborating report from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, which Ibn ‘Asakir (2/353/1) narrated through Bishr ibn ‘Umarah, from al-Ahwas ibn Hakim, from Rashid ibn Sa‘d and Abu ‘Awn, from Abu Hurayrah, tracing it back to the Prophet ﷺ.

I say: This too is weak, because it revolves around al-Ahwas, whose condition you have already learned. Bishr ibn ‘Umarah—who was al-Khath‘ami—is also weak; indeed, al-Daraqutni said: “Abandoned.” However, the hadith is supported by his ﷺ saying: “The Jews and Christians do not dye their hair, so differ from them.” Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, and referenced in Takhrij al-Halal (no. 105).

2115 — “He would command his daughters and wives to go out on the two Eids.”

Ahmad (1/231) narrated it through Hajjaj, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Abis, from Ibn ‘Abbas, tracing it back to the Prophet ﷺ. Ibn Abi Shaybah likewise narrated it in al-Musannaf (2/182), except that he said, “would go out,” instead of, “would command.”

I say: Its narrators are trustworthy, except that this Hajjaj—who was Ibn Artah—practised tadlis and narrated it with an ambiguous “from” formulation.