Q: Is dyeing the beard and hair a Sunnah?
A: Yes. However black dye is impermissible. It appears in the Hadith that the father of Abu Bakr, Abu Quhaafah (Radiallahu Anhu) was brought before Rasulullah (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) on the occasion of the conquest of Makkah Mukarramah. Nabi (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had seen his head and beard completely white. Nabi (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) advised him to dye his hair as well as his beard, however Nabi (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) instructed him to abstain from using black dye.
عن جابر قال أتي بأبي قحافة يوم فتح مكة ورأسه ولحيته كالثغامة بياضاً فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم غيروا هذا بشيءٍ واجتنبوا السواد. (مسلم 2/199)
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)