Prohibition From Dying The Hair Black

A woman is allowed to dye her hair when the hair turns grey or white. However, it is not permissible for her to dye her hair black. Consider the following narrations of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam:

Abu Quhafah Radiallahu Anhu was brought on the day of the conquest of Makkah, and his hair and beard had turned white like a Thaghamah (plant with white flowers and fruits). Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said, “Change this (white hair) with something and stay away from black.

Hadharat Ibn abbas Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: at the end of time (close to Qiyaamah), there will be a nation who will dye their hair black (which will appear like the black) stomachs of doves, (such people) will not even smell the fragrance of Jannah.

Hadharat Abu Dardaa Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: whosoever will dye their hair black, Allah Ta’ala will blacken their faces on the day of Qiyaamah.

Allah Ta’ala will not shower His mercy on that individual who dyes his/her hair black in colour.

Moreover, the Fuqaha (Jurists) mention that in dying the hair black, a person is deceiving others by making himself/herself appear young, and deceiving others is not permissible in Shariah considering the following Hadeeth of Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam:

“Whoever deceives is not part of us”

From the above-mentioned narrations, we learned that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has stated severe warnings against those people who dye their hair black, therefore one should stay away from using black dye (without raising any questions and objections) as this ruling of prohibition is in accordance to the Quraanic teachings.

In principle, it is permissible to use any other colour apart from black. However, Ulamah write that one should abstain from those bright and “loud”colours (purple, green, etc) which have become the fashion and hallmark of the Kuffar (disbelievers) as we have been prohibited from imitating the Kuffar.