Aslam

Praise be to Allah.It is not permitted for a man to die his beard black

because of the reports which command us to avoid that and forbid us to do it. Abu Dawood

reported from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah who said: “Abu Quhaafah was brought on the

day of the Conquest of Makkah, and his head and beard were like thughaamah (a plant

whose leaves and flowers are intensely white) because they were so white. The Messenger of

Allaah

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Change this white

hair, but avoid black.’” (Reported by Muslim, al-Nisaa’i and Ibn

Maajah). Ahmad, Abu Dawood and al-Nisaa’i reported from Ibn

‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘There will be a people at the end

of time who will dye their hair black like the crops of pigeons; they will not even smell

the fragrance of Paradise.’” But it is encouraged to change grey or white hair

by dyeing it any other colour except black, because of the hadeeth of Jaabir quoted above.

It is permitted to dye the hair with henna or any other substance that

will give it a reddish or yellowish colour, because it is reported that the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to dye his hair with yellow. Muslim

reported that Abu Bakr dyed his hair with henna and katam and that ‘Umar used to dye

his hair with henna. The Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also

said, “The best things with which you can change this grey hair are henna and

katam.”