- “Had you left the old man—that is, Abu Quhafah—where he was, we would have come to him, as an honour to Abu Bakr.” He said this to Abu Bakr.
Imam Ahmad narrated it (3/160): Muhammad ibn Salamah al-Harrani narrated to us, from Hisham, from Muhammad ibn Sirin, who said: Anas ibn Malik was asked about the dyeing of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He replied: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had turned grey only slightly. But Abu Bakr and Umar, after him, dyed their hair with henna and katam.” He said: Abu Bakr brought his father, Abu Quhafah, to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, on the day of the Conquest of Makkah, carrying him, until he set him before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then said to Abu Bakr—and he mentioned the hadith. Abu Quhafah embraced Islam, and his beard and hair were as white as a white flowering plant. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Change their colour, but avoid black.”
I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission according to Muslim’s criteria. Hisham is Ibn Hassan al-Qardusi, a trustworthy narrator and among the most reliable transmitters from Ibn Sirin. Ibn Hibban also declared it authentic (1476), through Ibn Salamah; likewise al-Hakim (3/244), and al-Dhahabi agreed with him.
The hadith also has a supporting report through Asma bint Abu Bakr, relating the account of Abu Quhafah but without the words, “but avoid black.”
Imam Ahmad narrated it (6/349) through the route of Ibn Ishaq, who said: Yahya ibn Abbad ibn Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr narrated to me, from his father, from his grandmother Asma bint Abu Bakr.
I say: This is a good chain of transmission, and Ibn Hibban declared it authentic (1700) by way of this route.
The account has another supporting report through Jabir ibn Abdullah, which includes the additional wording. Muslim and other compilers of the Sunan narrated it, and it has been referenced in Takhrij al-Halal wa-al-Haram, no. (106).