Q. Can a couple dye their hair black? Just about us, so you can answer according to our situation. We are both in our 50’s and we are alone. All children are in college or working and started to feel young again.…. We do not see immodest in the home for we are alone. We want to know that if we can dye our hair black? So we feel that black is most striking and best for us. Can one provide proof for otherwise?
A. A Hadith of our Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and commentary from the fuqaha (jurist) and muhadith (masters of Hadith) state:
??????: ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? . ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?.
??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???? : ??????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ? ???? ????? ????? ???? ? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ? ????? ????? . ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ? ??? ????????? : ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ? ????? ??? ?????? ? ???? ????? . ???? ???? : ?????? ?????? ???? ? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? . ???????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????Muslims who dye their hair pitch black have most certainly taken part in a reprehensible and forbidden action. As a matter of fact, according to the Hadith, dying the hair black is a sign of those deeds which would exist as part of the signs of the Last Day. Dyeing the hair black without a valid reason makes it impossible for a person to achieve fragrance of paradise. (Hadith)
This Hadith shows the extent to which a prohibition exists in Islam regarding dyeing the hair pitch black. Persisting upon it without a valid reason would be part of what is known as the kabair (major sins).
However, if your husband is taking part in a military exercise and wants to be perceived as youthful so as to create fear and awe in the enemy, then valid grounds exist for the usage of black dye. Generally, this is not the reason for why people choose black dye.
One can use henna of any hair color other than pure black. If over-the-counter dyes are used, that would be also acceptable. As Muslims, we should always try and use products that are not damaging to the hair and body, as part of healthily maintaining the bodies we’ve been blessed with. In addition, the ingredients in them should also be pure. Should a partner insist that his wife uses black dye upon knowing that it is a major sin to do so, then a woman can comply with the nagging demand only if the violating husband is younger and demanding, and the woman is graying or ageing unpleasantly in comparison to her husband. Her usage of it should be to merely appease the situation of a non-Sharia complying Muslim husband. However, even in such a situation, it would still be more preferred that she usesa color close to black, rather than pure black itself. As for men, they cannot ever use black hair dye, unless the condition outlined above applies to them.
Also prohibited are strange colors to follow a fad. For example, green, purple, absurdly red colorings, etc. that resemble not only non-Islamic practices, but additionally are color choices that lack the salient features of a normally healthy-looking individual in any culture. To follow a trend that resembles a pattern which lacks acceptance in any society would be something that is certainly unnecessary, and to be part of such ‘a hair dying fraternity’ would be emulating the worst of a culture. In Islam, there is absolutely no room for such display of unimpressive behavior. For our Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) states in a Hadith:
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Whomsoever you emulate, (then in reality) you are part of them.
It is thus best to emulate the best, so as to become the very best, something every dignified culture stands for.
Allah certainly knows best.
