Question (Q-69)
What is the Islamic ruling on black hair dye?
Answer:
Applying black hair dye is completely impermissible and Harām except in the situation when a soldier is fighting in the way of Allah تعالى (Jihād). Even if it is mixed with Mehndi (Henna) or something else, black dye is still Harām (forbidden). In fact, even if pure Mehndi (Henna) turns a person’s hair black then this is also Harām (forbidden) but if it makes it dark red then this is permissible. (Ashi’atul-lam’āt, Book of clothing, Chapter on combing – Kitāb ul Libās, Bāb ut Tarajjul, Volume 3, Page 570)
The Blessed Ahādīth mention strict warnings against applying black dye. A few of these are mentioned below. Women are also included in this ruling,
1 – يکون قوم في اٰخر الزمان يخضبون بهذا السواد کحواصل الحمام لا يجدون رائحة الجنة رواه ابن عباس اخرجه الإمام أحمد في مسنده
“There will be a nation at the end of time who will apply black dye like the backs of pigeons. They will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.” (It is narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās. Al Imām Ahmad extracted this Hadīth in his Musnad)
2 – إن اللّٰه تعاليٰ لا ينظر إلي من يخضب بالسواد يوم القيامة کذا في کنز العمال المجلد السادس
“On the Day of Judgement, Allah (تعالى) will not look mercifully towards the one who applies black dye.” (Kanz ul ‘Ummāl, Volume 6)
3 -إن اللّٰه تعاليٰ يبغض الشيخ الغربيب اخرجه الديلمي في مسند
الفردوس
“Indeed Allah (تعالى) hates an old crow.” (Musnad Al Firdaws by Ad Dailamī)
4 – الصفرة خضاب المؤمن والحمرة خضاب المسلم والسواد خضاب الکافر رواه الطبراني في الکبير
“Yellow dye is for a Believer, red dye is for a Muslim and black for a disbeliever.” (At Tabarānī – Al Mu’jam Al Kabīr)
5 -الشيب نور من خلع الشيب فقد خلع نورالإسلام رواه ابن حبان و ابن عساکر عن انس رضي اللّٰه تعاليٰ عنه
“Whiteness is light. Whoever hides whiteness has removed the light of Islām.”
6 -أول من اختضب بالسواد فرعون أخرجه الديلمي في مسند الفردوس
“The first person to dye his hair black was Pharaoh.” (Musnad Al Firdaws by Ad Dailamī)
7 – من خضب بالسواد سود اللّٰه وجهه يوم القيامة راوه الطبراني في الکبير
“Whoever dyes his hair black, Allah (تعالى) will turn his face black on Judgement Day.”
Allah (تعالى) is Most Knowing.
Written by Muftī Shamsulhudā Khān Misbāhī (Allah preserve him)
