Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaam-u-Alaikum, brother, I have been puzzled about this question for a long time.... the question is is it halal for girls and guys to color their hair is islam? I know girls are the ones that do it more often...but nowadays...you`re starting to see a lot of blondish streaks in guys hair as well... I know if you put mendhi in your hair....it`s totally halal! but what about other ways of coloring? If someone can provide specific ayas or evidence for the Hadith or quran...that would be wonderful...becaue I know if you doubt something to be haram....then u just shouldn`t do it..but unfortunatly I have friends who have to be given evidence...to follow the right path! jazakallah Wassalam... Your sis fi Islaam... 

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Answer:

Is coloring of hair permissible in Islam

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "The Jews and Christians do not dye, so differ from them."

Abu Dharr reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "The best thing that one can use to change the color of grey hairs is henna and katm (a reddish dye)."

It is related from some of the companions that some of them used a yellow dye, while others used henna or katm. Others used saffron, and a group of them used a black dye.

Ibn Hajr mentioned in Fath al-Bari that az-Zuhri said, "We used black dye if our face was youthful, but if wrinkles were present and the teeth were gone we would not use it."

Said Jabir, "Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr's father) was brought to the Prophet (saws) during the conquest of Makkah while his head was "white." The Prophet (saws) said, "Take him to one of his wives and let her change the color of his hair with something, but she should avoid (making his hair) black."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.257 Narrated by Anas (the servant of the Prophet)

When the Prophet arrived (at Medina), there was not a single companion of the Prophet who had grey and black hair except Abu Bakr, and he dyed his hair with Hinna and Katam (i.e. plants used for dying hair). Through another group of narrators, Anas bin Malik said,. "When the Prophet arrived at Medina, the eldest amongst his companions was Abu Bakr. He dyed his hair with Hinna and Katam till it became of dark red color."

There is absolutely no harm if one colors their hair; be they male or female. If one is young and his/her hair has become white, then it is permissible for them to even use black color if he/she so wishes. But from the narration of Hadrat Jabir and the incident of Hadrat Abu Bakr’s father Abu Quhafah, the scholars have opined that if a person is very old, then one should avoid using black color to dye the hair.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan