Is it true that the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattab and Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them both), said that dyeing hair black is permissible because it brings joy to women and instills awe in the enemy? Is it also true that a number of Companions dyed their hair black? And does the Hadith in Sahih Muslim, "Change this with something and avoid black," imply the obligation to dye gray hair and the prohibition of dyeing it black?

The jurists have agreed upon the desirability of changing gray hair for men and women with henna and the like. However, they differed on the ruling of dyeing with black. The majority of them are of the opinion that it is forbidden. What is well-known from the generality of the Companions and the Tabi'un is dyeing with henna and katam, or with henna alone, or with a yellowish color. As for what has been reported from some Companions regarding dyeing with black, its chain of narration to them is not authentic, or the narrations were disconnected, or they were not heard directly from them. This does not contradict what was reported from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that he had white hair and beard. The command to change gray hair is a Sunnah (definition) and not obligatory, by the agreement of the people of knowledge.