1637/1- Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Abu Quhāfah, father of Abu Bakr as-Siddīq (may Allah be pleased with them) was brought on the day of the Conquest of Makkah with his head and beard as white as a Thaghāmah (a white plant). Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Change this and avoid black.” [Narrated by Muslim]
Thaghāmah: a plant with white flowers and fruits. White hair is likened to it given its whiteness.
1) It is recommended to dye the hair of the elderly in compliance with the Prophetic Sunnah, and in opposition to the polytheists.
2) It is prohibited to dye the hair in black. Some rationale behind that is avoiding the concealment of the reality.
Imam Ahmad narrated in his Musnad (3/160) on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sīrīn that he said: Anas ibn Mālik was asked about the dye of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), and he said:
“The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) had only a little white hair. But Abu Bakr and ‘Umar dyed their hair after him with Katam and Hinna. Also, Abu Bakr came with his father Abu Quhāfah to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of the Conquest of Makkah. He was carrying him and placed him in front of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) who said to Abu Bakr: ‘If you had kept him at his house, we would have come to him,’ in honor of Abu Bakr. Abu Quhāfah accepted Islam, and his head and beard were as white as a Thaghāmah (a plant with white flowers and fruits). Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:‘Change them, and avoid black.’”