Q: Is it permissible to dye a beard black?

A: All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions. It is not permitted for a man to dye his beard black because of the Hadiths which command us to avoid that and forbid us to do it. Abu Dawud reported on the authority of Jabir ibn `Abdullah that he said: “Abu Quhafah was brought on the day of the peaceful victory of Makkah, and his head and beard were looking as white as Thaghamah (a plant whose leaves and flowers are intensely white). The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘Change this (white hair), but avoid black.’” (Related by Muslim, Al-Nasa'y and Ibn Majah). Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Al-Nasa'y also related on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “There will be a people at the end of time who will dye their hair black like the crops of pigeons; they will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise.” But it is Mustahab (desirable) to change grey or white hair by dyeing it to another color, but to avoid black, because of the above-quoted Hadith reported by Jabir. (Part No. 5; Page No. 167) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.