DYEING ONES HAIR

Ques. I am Bilal. Id like to know about hair coloring according to Quran and
Hadith. I came to know that it is permissible. Is it right? Please explain
providing evidence from authentic sources of Islam.
Bilal Ahmed ----- bilalgi@islamicvoice.com
Ans.: It is permissible to change the colour of ones greying hair, to a colour
besides black, as long as the material used for coloring hair is pure and
permissible.
Narrated Abu Dharr
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: The best things with which grey
hair are changed are henna and katam (a plant from Yemen which
produces reddish-black dye). [Sunan Abu Dawood Vol.3 Chapter
1567 Hadith No.4193]
During the days of the Prophet (pbuh), the Jews and the Christians used to
refrain from dyeing greying hair because they considered such adornment as
contrary to piety and devotion, and not befitting rabbis, priests and ascetics.
The Prophet (pbuh) forbade Muslims from imitating them (the Jews and the
Christians), in order that Muslims might develop their own distinctive and
independent characteristics.
Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "The Jews and the Christians do not dye
(their grey hair), so you shall do the opposite of what they do (i.e. dye your
grey hair and beards)." [Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.4 Hadith No.3462 & Sahih
Muslim Vol.3 Chapter 831 Hadith No.5245]
However, it is not permitted for a Muslim man or a woman to dye his/her
hair black because of the reports in which the Prophet (pbuh) instructed the
Muslims to abstain from it.
Jabir bin Abdullah reported that Abu Quhaafah was led (to the audience of
the Holy Prophet) on the day of the conquest of Makkah and his head and
beard were white like thughamah (hyssop), whereupon Allahs Messenger
(pbuh) said: Change it with something but avoid black. [Sahih Muslim
Vol.3 Chapter 831 Hadith No.5244]

Ibn Abbaas reported the Allahs Messenger (pbuh) as saying: At the end of
time there will be people who will use this black dye like the crops of birds;
they will not experience the fragrance of Paradise. [Sunan Abu Dawood
Vol.3 Chapter 1569 Hadith No.4200]
Nevertheless, the use of black dye is specifically permitted during time of
war, with the possibility of demoralizing the enemy when they see all Muslim
soldiers looking young.
Moreover, dyeing the hair when there is no grey hair, though not forbidden,
is not regarded as following the Prophets example, since it does not serve
the same shari interests as achieved by dyeing grey hair.
One must make sure that hair colouring should not be done as an imitation
of immodest or immoral people, whom some people may mistakenly regard
as examples to follow. This is prohibited because the Prophet (pbuh) said:
Whoever imitates any people is one of them. [Sunan Abu Dawood Vol.3
Chapter 1506 Hadith No.4020].
And Allah Knows the Best.