❀ 6 Shar‘i Rulings Regarding White Hair in the Beard ❀
Derived from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khālis, Vol. 1, Page 409
Is it permissible to pluck white hair from the beard?
A sound ḥadīth narrated by ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb from his father, who narrated from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Do not pluck white hairs, for they are a light (nūr) for the Muslim. When a white hair appears on a Muslim, Allah writes for him one good deed, erases one sin, and raises him by one degree."
(Abū Dāwūd 2/791, Ḥadīth 4202; Ibn Mājah 2/204, Ḥadīth 3721; Mishkāt 2/372)
The chain of this ḥadīth is authentic.
This narration clearly prohibits plucking white hairs. A Muslim should not extinguish their external nūr (white hair) and internal nūr (adherence to Sunnah) by opposing the Prophet’s ﷺ command.
Any opposing opinion, such as that of Ibn ʿĀbidīn in Radd al-Muḥtār allowing white hair removal, is not reliable in light of this ḥadīth.
It is preferable (afḍal) to dye a white beard with henna or a mixture of henna and katam, as reported in numerous authentic narrations.
A sound ḥadīth from Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه states that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“In the last era, there will be people who will apply black dye—as if their heads are like the crops of pigeons. They will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.”
(Abū Dāwūd, Nasā’ī; Mishkāt 2/382)
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2/199), it is narrated from Jābir رضي الله عنه:
On the day of Fatḥ Makkah, Abū Quḥāfah—the father of Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه—was brought, and his head and beard were completely white like thaʿāmah blossoms. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Change this (white hair), but avoid black dye.”
“Dyeing the beard is mustaḥabb (recommended), and using black dye is ḥarām.”
(al-Majmūʿ 1/294)
He further stated:
“There is consensus (ijmāʿ) on the prohibition of dyeing the hair or beard black. The correct opinion is that it is ḥarām.”
● From Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
"There will be people who dye their hair black. Allah will not look at them with mercy."
(Source: Ṭabarānī al-Awsaṭ; Chain: Ḥasan)
● From Abū al-Dardāʾ رضي الله عنه:
"Whoever dyes (his hair) black, Allah will blacken his face on the Day of Judgment."
(Source: Ṭabarānī; Some considered the chain weak, but others graded the narrator reliable)
● From Anas رضي الله عنه:
A Jewish man visited the Prophet ﷺ, and upon seeing his white beard, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Why don’t you change it?”
The people said: “This is disliked.”
The Prophet ﷺ responded:
“You must change it, but avoid black dye.”
(Source: Ṭabarānī al-Awsaṭ; Narrator: Ibn Luhayyah; Ḥadīth: Ḥasan)
● From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه:
“Yellow is the dye of a believer, red is the dye of a Muslim, and black is the dye of a disbeliever.”
(Source: Ṭabarānī; Note: Unknown narrator according to Haythamī)
After analyzing all the narrations, it becomes clear that:
Plucking white hairs is impermissible.
Dyeing hair with black is ḥarām (forbidden).
Using henna or a yellowish dye is sunnah and preferable.
“There is no contradiction in the ḥadīths. Two things are clearly forbidden: plucking white hairs and dyeing them black. The only permitted method is dyeing with henna or yellowish dye, as practiced by the Companions.”
When asked whether black dye is disliked, he replied:
“Yes, by Allah!”
Some scholars—including the companions of Abū Ḥanīfah—have permitted the use of black dye.
There are also narrations attributed to Ḥasan and Ḥusayn رضي الله عنهما allowing it.
However, these narrations are questionable, and even if proven authentic, no statement can override the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ—which remains the ultimate standard of guidance.
Sayyid Sābiq, in Fiqh al-Sunnah, permitted the use of black dye, which is incorrect.
Likewise, his claim that dyeing is cultural rather than sunnah is also incorrect. Rather, it is a continuous and established Sunnah (Sunnah Mustamirrah).
In al-Muntaqā Sharḥ Nayl al-Awṭār (1/144), he established a chapter:
"Chapter: On changing white hair with henna and katam, and the reprehensibility of black dye"
He also cited various ḥadīths on this matter.
◈ Plucking white beard hair is impermissible.
◈ Dyeing white hair with black is ḥarām.
◈ Using henna or yellow dye is preferred and sunnah.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Derived from: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khālis, Vol. 1, Page 409
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to pluck white hair from the beard?
✿ ① Ḥadīth Regarding Plucking White Hair
A sound ḥadīth narrated by ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb from his father, who narrated from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Do not pluck white hairs, for they are a light (nūr) for the Muslim. When a white hair appears on a Muslim, Allah writes for him one good deed, erases one sin, and raises him by one degree."
(Abū Dāwūd 2/791, Ḥadīth 4202; Ibn Mājah 2/204, Ḥadīth 3721; Mishkāt 2/372)
The chain of this ḥadīth is authentic.
This narration clearly prohibits plucking white hairs. A Muslim should not extinguish their external nūr (white hair) and internal nūr (adherence to Sunnah) by opposing the Prophet’s ﷺ command.
Any opposing opinion, such as that of Ibn ʿĀbidīn in Radd al-Muḥtār allowing white hair removal, is not reliable in light of this ḥadīth.
✿ ② Ruling on Dyeing White Hair
✔ Encouragement to Dye with Henna:
It is preferable (afḍal) to dye a white beard with henna or a mixture of henna and katam, as reported in numerous authentic narrations.
✿ ③ Prohibition of Using Black Dye
A sound ḥadīth from Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه states that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“In the last era, there will be people who will apply black dye—as if their heads are like the crops of pigeons. They will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.”
(Abū Dāwūd, Nasā’ī; Mishkāt 2/382)
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2/199), it is narrated from Jābir رضي الله عنه:
On the day of Fatḥ Makkah, Abū Quḥāfah—the father of Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه—was brought, and his head and beard were completely white like thaʿāmah blossoms. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Change this (white hair), but avoid black dye.”
✿ ④ Opinions of the Scholars
✔ Imām Nawawī رحمه الله:
“Dyeing the beard is mustaḥabb (recommended), and using black dye is ḥarām.”
(al-Majmūʿ 1/294)
He further stated:
“There is consensus (ijmāʿ) on the prohibition of dyeing the hair or beard black. The correct opinion is that it is ḥarām.”
✿ ⑤ Additional Evidence and Narrations
● From Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
"There will be people who dye their hair black. Allah will not look at them with mercy."
(Source: Ṭabarānī al-Awsaṭ; Chain: Ḥasan)
● From Abū al-Dardāʾ رضي الله عنه:
"Whoever dyes (his hair) black, Allah will blacken his face on the Day of Judgment."
(Source: Ṭabarānī; Some considered the chain weak, but others graded the narrator reliable)
● From Anas رضي الله عنه:
A Jewish man visited the Prophet ﷺ, and upon seeing his white beard, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Why don’t you change it?”
The people said: “This is disliked.”
The Prophet ﷺ responded:
“You must change it, but avoid black dye.”
(Source: Ṭabarānī al-Awsaṭ; Narrator: Ibn Luhayyah; Ḥadīth: Ḥasan)
● From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه:
“Yellow is the dye of a believer, red is the dye of a Muslim, and black is the dye of a disbeliever.”
(Source: Ṭabarānī; Note: Unknown narrator according to Haythamī)
✿ ⑥ Summary of the Stronger Opinion (Rājih Qawl)
After analyzing all the narrations, it becomes clear that:
Plucking white hairs is impermissible. Dyeing hair with black is ḥarām (forbidden). Using henna or a yellowish dye is sunnah and preferable.◈ Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله in
“There is no contradiction in the ḥadīths. Two things are clearly forbidden: plucking white hairs and dyeing them black. The only permitted method is dyeing with henna or yellowish dye, as practiced by the Companions.”
◈ Imām Aḥmad رحمه الله:
When asked whether black dye is disliked, he replied:
“Yes, by Allah!”
✿ On Conflicting Views
Some scholars—including the companions of Abū Ḥanīfah—have permitted the use of black dye.
There are also narrations attributed to Ḥasan and Ḥusayn رضي الله عنهما allowing it.
However, these narrations are questionable, and even if proven authentic, no statement can override the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ—which remains the ultimate standard of guidance.
✿ On the Fatwā of Sayyid Sābiq:
Sayyid Sābiq, in Fiqh al-Sunnah, permitted the use of black dye, which is incorrect.
Likewise, his claim that dyeing is cultural rather than sunnah is also incorrect. Rather, it is a continuous and established Sunnah (Sunnah Mustamirrah).
✿ Commentary from Abū al-Barakāt:
In al-Muntaqā Sharḥ Nayl al-Awṭār (1/144), he established a chapter:
"Chapter: On changing white hair with henna and katam, and the reprehensibility of black dye"
He also cited various ḥadīths on this matter.
Final Summary:
◈ Plucking white beard hair is impermissible.
◈ Dyeing white hair with black is ḥarām.
◈ Using henna or yellow dye is preferred and sunnah.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
