Forbidding to Dye Hair Black

باب نهي الرجل والمرأة عن خضاب شعرهما بسواد

This brief chapter narrows the previous theme to a single detail: when grey hair is changed, it should not be changed to black. The point is honesty and contentment, letting the marks of age be softened naturally rather than disguised into a false youth.

The one hadith here shows the Prophet (peace be upon him) responding to an elderly man whose hair had turned snow white. Notice that change itself is permitted, even encouraged, yet it is steered away from black. The spiritual lesson is to wear our years with dignity and gratitude; the precise rulings on which dyes are allowed are a matter for the scholars.

Hadith 1637

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

عن جابر رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ أتي بأبي قحافة والد أبي بكر الصديق رضي الله عنهما يوم فتح مكة ورأسه ولحيته كالثغامة بياضًا، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏غيروا هذا واجتنبوا السواد‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Abu Quhafah, father of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with them) was presented to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of the conquest of Makkah and his head and beard were snow white. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Change it (i.e., dye it and avoid black colour)." [Muslim].

In plain words

Told to dye his hair, an elderly man with snow-white head and beard, change is allowed but steered away from black. Soften the marks of age naturally rather than disguise them into false youth.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1637 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 127