The Use of Dye By Rasulullah SAW 0601

There are infact many different Ahadith on this subject.

From among these Imam Tirmidhi RA had mentioned four Ahadith in this chapter. Due to the various different Ahadith on this subject, the Ulama have also differed as to whether the prophet Muhammac SAW actually dyed his hair or not.

Imam Tirmidhi RA and the majority of the Ulama are of the opinion that the Prophet Muhammad SAW did not dye his hair. It is stated in "Durri Mukhtaar" that it is more correct to have the opinion that the Prophet Muhammad SAW did not dye his hair. Allamah Shaami RA has reasoned that according to Imam Bukhari RA and other Muhadditheen, Rasulullah SAW did not have more than seventeen white hair in his beard and on his head.

On the other hand, with much acedemic respect, Bayjuri Ash-Shafi'i RA, the commentator of Shama'il Tirmidhi is of the opinion that Rasulullah SAW sometimes dyed his hair but did not do so regularly.

In terms of the Masalah of Fiqh, according to the Hanafi School of Jurisprudence, dying of the hair is Mustahab, but according to a well-known saying the using of a black dye is Makruh. The Shafi'i Ulama say that the use of a dye is sunnah, while the use of black dye is Haraam. Hence, to be safe - one should absolutely abstain from the use of black dye, for the sake of piety.


HADITH 1

Abu Rimthah Taymi RA says:

"I attended a gathering of Rasulullah SAW with my son.

Rasulullah SAW asked me:

"Is this your son?"

I replied:

"Yes, this is my son. You be a witness to it."

Rasulullah SAW said:

"The revenge of his Jinayah (Crime) is not on you, nor is the revenge of your crime on him."

Abu Rimthah RA says:

"At that time I noticed a few hair of Rasulullah SAW were red."


COMMENTARY

Imam Tirmidhi RA says:

"This (the above) Hadith is the most correct and closest on the subject of using a dye."

It was the custom in the times of Jahiliyah that a son was punished for the crimes of his father. On this basis Abu Rimthah RA said this, so that if it would be necessary at any time, Rasulullah SAW would be witness that truly this was his son. Rasulullah SAW in refuting this custom of Jahiliyah said:

"This is not the law of Islam, that one person commits a crime and another gets punished for it."

This is further mentioned in the Qur'an, whereby Allah SWT says:

"No laden soul can bear anothers load." (Surah An-Najm: Ayat 38)