The Meaning of the Ḥadīth: “Change this whiteness, but avoid black dye”
Source: Fatāwā Amun Pūrī by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amun Pūrī
The Question
What is the meaning of the ḥadīth in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
“Change this whiteness, but avoid black dye”?
The Answer
It is narrated from Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما that on the day of the Conquest of Makkah, the father of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه, Sayyidunā Abū Quḥāfah رضي الله عنه, was brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. His hair and beard were completely white. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Change this whiteness, but avoid black dye.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2102)
Explanation of the Ḥadīth
- This ḥadīth contains two rulings, both understood as recommendations (istihbāb):
① To change the color of completely white hair.
② To avoid using black dye — especially in the case of extreme old age. - The instruction was given specifically to Abū Quḥāfah رضي الله عنه due to his extreme old age, as black dye would not have benefitted his appearance.
- Just as many of the Salaf did not dye their hair and this shows that dyeing is not obligatory, similarly, some of them did apply black dye and permitted it. Therefore, using black dye is not ḥarām.
Evidence from the Salaf
❀ Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنهما narrated:
Sayyidunā ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه saw ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنه with his hair dyed jet black like a crow’s feathers. ʿUmar asked him:
“O Abū ʿAbdillāh, what is this?”
ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ replied:
“O Amīr al-Muʾminīn, I wish that you see me as young.”
Hearing this, ʿUmar رضي الله عنه remained silent, neither forbidding it nor considering it blameworthy.
(al-Mustadrak ʿalā al-Ṣaḥīḥayn by al-Ḥākim: 3/454 — sanad ḥasan)
The silence of ʿUmar رضي الله عنه, a caliph known for strict adherence to the Sunnah, proves that he also considered black dye permissible.Conclusion
- The ḥadīth about avoiding black dye was context-specific for Abū Quḥāfah رضي الله عنه in his extreme old age.
- The Salaf’s practice shows that black dye is not prohibited (ḥarām).
- Both dyeing hair and avoiding black dye are matters of recommendation and choice, not obligation.
