DYEING ONES HAIR
Ques. I am Bilal. Id like to know about hair coloring according
to Quran and Hadith. I came to know that it is permissible. Is it
right? Please explain providing evidence from authentic sources of
Islam.
BilalAhmed ----- [email protected].: It is permissible
to change the colour of ones greying hair, to a colour besides
black, as long as the material used for coloring hair is pure and
permissible.
Narrated Abu Dharr
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: The best things with which grey
hair are changed are henna and katam (a plant from Yemen which
produces reddish-black dye). [Sunan Abu Dawood Vol.3 Chapter 1567
Hadith No.4193]
During the days of the Prophet (pbuh), the Jews and the
Christians used to refrain from dyeing greying hair because they
considered such adornment as contrary to piety and devotion, and
not befitting rabbis, priests and ascetics. The Prophet (pbuh)
forbade Muslims from imitating them (the Jews and the Christians),
in order that Muslims might develop their own distinctive and
independent characteristics.
Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "The Jews and the Christians do
not dye (their grey hair), so you shall do the opposite of what
they do (i.e. dye your grey hair and beards)." [Sahih Al-Bukhari
Vol.4 Hadith No.3462 & Sahih Muslim Vol.3 Chapter 831 Hadith
No.5245]
However, it is not permitted for a Muslim man or a woman to dye
his/her hair black because of the reports in which the Prophet
(pbuh) instructed the Muslims to abstain from it.
Jabir bin Abdullah reported that Abu Quhaafah was led (to the
audience of the Holy Prophet) on the day of the conquest of Makkah
and his head and beard were white like thughamah (hyssop),
whereupon Allahs Messenger (pbuh) said: Change it with something
but avoid black. [Sahih Muslim Vol.3 Chapter 831 Hadith
No.5244]
Ibn Abbaas reported the Allahs Messenger (pbuh) as saying: At
the end of time there will be people who will use this black dye
like the crops of birds; they will not experience the fragrance of
Paradise. [Sunan Abu Dawood Vol.3 Chapter 1569 Hadith No.4200]
Nevertheless, the use of black dye is specifically permitted
during time of war, with the possibility of demoralizing the enemy
when they see all Muslim soldiers looking young.
Moreover, dyeing the hair when there is no grey hair, though not
forbidden, is not regarded as following the Prophets example, since
it does not serve the same shari interests as achieved by dyeing
grey hair.
One must make sure that hair colouring should not be done as an
imitation of immodest or immoral people, whom some people may
mistakenly regard as examples to follow. This is prohibited because
the Prophet (pbuh) said: Whoever imitates any people is one of
them. [Sunan Abu Dawood Vol.3 Chapter 1506 Hadith No.4020].
And Allah Knows the Best.
