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Is describing the statements of the imams - may Allah have mercy on them - as false in discussions among students of knowledge considered audacious and disrespectful?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

We have favored the opinion that dyeing hair black is forbidden. However, we consider it an act of audacity to definitively declare the invalidity of another opinion in matters of differing views, where the evidence allows for multiple interpretations—as in this case—and to swear an oath to that effect. This is because the narrations prohibiting dyeing hair black are not explicit in their prohibition, such as the hadith: "Keep away from black," for it might mean that dyeing with it is forbidden, or it might mean that dyeing with it is a disgrace and blemish for an old man, not that it is inherently forbidden. Similarly, the hadith: "They will dye with black," is not explicit in its prohibition. Therefore, swearing by Allah that this opinion is invalid, despite the possibility of various interpretations of the evidence and the opinions of great imams and the actions of many Companions, is a clear act of audacity.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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