Is it permissible to dye hair black for adornment only, when it is not for covering gray hair?

The preponderant opinion is the impermissibility of dyeing hair black for beautification, whether for a man or a woman, or a young or old person. What supports this is:

1. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded the changing of Abu Quhafah's gray hair and avoiding black dye. The principle is to consider the generality of the wording, not the specificity of the reason.

2. The hadith of Ibn Abbas states that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There will be people at the end of time who will dye their hair black like the crops of pigeons; they will not smell the fragrance of Paradise." The original principle is for the general ruling to remain general unless a specific exception or restriction is mentioned.

The only exception is for a Mujahid (one who strives in the path of Allah) to dye his hair black, due to scholarly consensus.