Changing the color of the beard to black: Is this one of the issues over which loyalty and disavowal are established?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you: Regarding the issue of changing the hair of the beard to black.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If a da'iyah (caller to Islam) with a solid standing in knowledge changes his beard to black, does the disagreement with him become a disagreement that establishes loyalty and disavowal? Or is it, for example, a wrong based on the stronger opinion that it is not permissible to change it to black? Or is it a matter where he has a valid view and is excused, like other issues of scholarly disagreement, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a person to base his loyalty and disavowal on evidence from the Shari'ah, not on his own desires. If it happens that someone disagrees with him based on the evidence he holds, it is not permissible for him to disavow him or to be hostile toward him. Consider if a person prayed after eating camel meat without performing wudu'. For those who hold that wudu' is obligatory after eating camel meat, praying without wudu' is a major sin. So, if we see a person who says, "I have not become clear on the obligation of wudu' from camel meat, so I pray without performing wudu' from it," do we say that we must be hostile toward him? The answer is no. In fact, it is not permissible to be hostile toward him, nor to hold a grudge against him. Similarly, if we see a person who holds that dyeing the beard black is permissible, we do not be hostile toward him. Rather, we discuss the matter with him until each of us reaches the truth. If the truth does not become clear to him, and we know that the man is sincere in seeking the truth but it has not become clear to him, then we do not be hostile toward him.
However, if we know that the man is stubborn in his opinion and desires, and he says, "Yes, this hadith indicates the prohibition of black, but I am accustomed to this, and I do not want to change from it," then he has disobeyed Allah with full knowledge. There is no harm in boycotting him if there is a benefit in boycotting him. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If a da'iyah (caller to Islam) with a solid standing in knowledge changes his beard to black, does the disagreement with him become a disagreement that establishes loyalty and disavowal? Or is it, for example, a wrong based on the stronger opinion that it is not permissible to change it to black? Or is it a matter where he has a valid view and is excused, like other issues of scholarly disagreement, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a person to base his loyalty and disavowal on evidence from the Shari'ah, not on his own desires. If it happens that someone disagrees with him based on the evidence he holds, it is not permissible for him to disavow him or to be hostile toward him. Consider if a person prayed after eating camel meat without performing wudu'. For those who hold that wudu' is obligatory after eating camel meat, praying without wudu' is a major sin. So, if we see a person who says, "I have not become clear on the obligation of wudu' from camel meat, so I pray without performing wudu' from it," do we say that we must be hostile toward him? The answer is no. In fact, it is not permissible to be hostile toward him, nor to hold a grudge against him. Similarly, if we see a person who holds that dyeing the beard black is permissible, we do not be hostile toward him. Rather, we discuss the matter with him until each of us reaches the truth. If the truth does not become clear to him, and we know that the man is sincere in seeking the truth but it has not become clear to him, then we do not be hostile toward him.
However, if we know that the man is stubborn in his opinion and desires, and he says, "Yes, this hadith indicates the prohibition of black, but I am accustomed to this, and I do not want to change from it," then he has disobeyed Allah with full knowledge. There is no harm in boycotting him if there is a benefit in boycotting him. Yes.