Dying the Hair black

Q: Prohibitions and Permissions-41: What is the ruling concerning dying the hair black after it has become white due to old age?

Answer: It is grave sin to dye the hair black. Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas RADI. reports that Rasulullaah SAW. said, "At the end of time there shall appear people who will dye their hair as black as the chests of pigeons. Such people will not even smell the fragrance of Jannah.

Hadhrat Jaabir RADI. reports that when Hadhrat Abu Quhaafah RADI. was brought to Rasulullaah SAW. when Makkah was conquered, his hair had already turned completely white. Rasulullaah SAW. then told him to dye his hair but to avoid dying it black. This Hadith makes is clear that the hair may be dyed, but it may not be dyed black. A Hadith states that the best of hair dyes are henna and katam (a form of grass used for dying)a and it is also reported that Hadhrat Abu Bakr RADI. used these to dye his hair's And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.3