In his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): [Change this gray hair and keep it away from black], does this indicate that it is obligatory?

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, in the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): "Change this and keep it away from black,"

The Shaykh:
Change this thing.

The questioner:
"Change this gray hair and keep it away from black." He asks: Does this command indicate that it is obligatory?

The Shaykh:
Yes, indeed, it is not obligatory. This is a command for what is recommended, because some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not dye their gray hair; they left it white. Yes, so dyeing the gray hair with anything other than black is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory. The Shaykhs of Shaykh Ibn Ibrahim, Shaykh 'Abd al-Latif ibn Ibrahim, Shaykh 'Umar ibn Hasan, and Shaykh Ibn Sa'di, all of them had white beards; they did not dye them. This indicates that changing the gray hair is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory.