Is there evidence for the permissibility of dyeing the beard black?
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Question:
Is there evidence for the permissibility of dyeing the beard black?
Answer:
As for dyeing the beard black, the evidence indicates that it is prohibited. It is authentically narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that when he saw the beard of Abu Quhafah, the father of al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with them both), and his head white like a pigeon’s beak, he ordered them to change the gray hair and to keep it away from black. This indicates that gray hair should be changed, and the Sunnah is to change it with yellow or red, but not with pure black. Rather, it should be changed with black mixed with red, or pure yellow, or pure red.
In the Sunan, from Abu Dawud, from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is a great warning, and its chain of narration is acceptable. It was narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and al-Nasa'i with a good chain of narration. This is explicit in prohibiting pure black.
As for what is narrated from some of the Salaf that they used to dye with black, this is understood to mean that the text did not reach them. It is understood that the texts indicating the prohibition of pure black did not reach them. This is the best thing to say regarding those from the Companions, or others, from whom it is narrated that they used to dye with black. The best thing to attribute to them is that the prohibition did not reach them.
Is there evidence for the permissibility of dyeing the beard black?
Answer:
As for dyeing the beard black, the evidence indicates that it is prohibited. It is authentically narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that when he saw the beard of Abu Quhafah, the father of al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with them both), and his head white like a pigeon’s beak, he ordered them to change the gray hair and to keep it away from black. This indicates that gray hair should be changed, and the Sunnah is to change it with yellow or red, but not with pure black. Rather, it should be changed with black mixed with red, or pure yellow, or pure red.
In the Sunan, from Abu Dawud, from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
In the end times, there will come people who dye with black, like the crops of pigeons, who will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.
يأتي في آخر الزمان قوم يخضبون بالسواد، كحواصل الحمام، لا يرحون رائحة الجنةAs for what is narrated from some of the Salaf that they used to dye with black, this is understood to mean that the text did not reach them. It is understood that the texts indicating the prohibition of pure black did not reach them. This is the best thing to say regarding those from the Companions, or others, from whom it is narrated that they used to dye with black. The best thing to attribute to them is that the prohibition did not reach them.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.