Is growing a beard obligatory and is it permissible to dye it red, and why, if growing a beard is obligatory, is not dyeing a white beard obligatory, even though both matters were mentioned in the same context?

Imam Ahmad narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon Allah be upon him, said: "Leave the beards and trim the mustaches, and change your gray hair, and do not imitate the Jews and Christians." The combination of leaving the beard and dyeing gray hair in one context is not evidence that they are equal in ruling, for the conjunctional implication (dalalat al-iqtiran) is not a proof if it is between two complete sentences.

The majority of scholars denied the implication of conjunction, saying: "Conjunction in wording does not necessitate conjunction in ruling." This is supported by the prophetic Hadith: "Ghusl (ritual bath) on Friday is obligatory for every adult, and to use the Siwak, and to apply perfume if available." Scholars differed on the obligation of ghusl on Friday, but they agreed on the desirability of using the Siwak and perfume, which indicates the weakness of the implication of conjunction in such cases.

In this Hadith, the command to leave the beard is a completely independent statement from the command to dye gray hair. Therefore, scholars have unanimously agreed on the prohibition of shaving the beard, while they have unanimously agreed on the desirability of changing gray hair, not its obligation.