Central Mosque

Chapter on Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallalhu'Alayhi Wasallam using a dye

There are many different ahaadith on this subject. From among these Imaam Tirmidhi had mentioned four ahaadith in this chapter. Because of the different ahaadith on this subject, the 'ulema have also differed as to whether Sayyidina Rasulullah Salallahu'Alayhi Wassalam dyed his hair or not. Imaam Tirmidhi and the majority are of the opinion that he did not dye his hair. The Hanafis also hold the same view. It is stated in the 'Durri Mukhtaar| that it is more correct that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wassalam did not dye his hair. 'Allamah Shaami has reasoned that according to Bukhari and other muhadditheen, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasalam did not have more than seventeen white hair in his mubaarak beard and head. Bayjuri As-Shaafi'ee, the commentator on the Shamaa-il Tirmidhi is of the opinion that Sayyidina Rasullah Sallallahy 'Alayhi Wasallam sometimes dyed his hair bou did not do so regularly.
MAS-ALAH: According to the Hanafi 'ulema, dying of the hair is mustahab but according to a well known saying the using of a black dye is makruh. The Shafi'ee 'ulema say that the use of a dye is sunnah, and the use of black dye is haraam.

(44) Hadith Number 1

Abu Rimthah Taymi Radhiallahu 'Anhu says: "I attended a gathering of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam with my son. Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam asked me, 'Is this your son?' I replied: 'Yes, this is my son. You be a witness to it.' Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alahi Wasallam said: 'The revenge of his crime (jinayah) is not on you, nor is the revenge of your crime on him.' (This will be explained in the commentary). Abu Rimthah Radhiallahu 'Anhu says: 'At that time I noticed a few hair of Rasulullah Salallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam were red." Imam Tirmidhi says: 'This hadith is the most correct and closest on the subject of using a dye.'

Commentary
It was the custom in the pre-Islamic times (jaahiliyah) that a son was punished for the crimes of his father. On this basis Abu Rimthah Radhiallahy 'Anhu said this, so that if it would be necessary at any time, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam would be witness that truly this was his son. Sayyidin Rasullulah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam in refuting this custom of the jaahiliyyah said: 'This is not the law of Islaam, that one person commits a crime and another gets punished for it." (No laden soul can bear anothers load.-Surah Najm,38).

(45) Hadith Number 2

Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu 'Anhu was asked: "Did Rasulullah Sallallhu 'Alayhi Wasallam use a dye?" (for his hair). He replied: "Yes."

(46) Hadith Number 3

Jah-dhamah Radiallahu 'Anha, the wife of Bashir Kha-saasiyyah Radiallahu 'Anhu says: "I saw Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam coming out of the house after taking a bath and was stroking (or combing) his haif. There were signs of henna on his mubaarak head."

(47) Hadith Number 4

Anas Radhiallahu 'Anhu says: "I saw that the hair of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam had been dyed."

Commentary
As has been explained there are different narrations on the dying of the hair of Sayyidina Rasulullahu Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. There is an apparent contradiction between this narration and the one mentioned in the first hadith of the previous chapter, where Sayyidina Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu denies Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu ' Alayhi Wasallam used a dye. we may take both narrations to be correct, as they could have been narrated at an earlier and a later period.

Article taken (with Thanks) from Darul-uloom Bury