The Ruling on Dyeing the Beard Black

Question :

What is the ruling on dying the beard with the darkest type of black, and is the one who does so guilty of sin? And what is the difference between shaving it and dyeing it black?

Answer:

Changing the color of the hair on one's head and the beard with henna or Katam or the like is lawful, while changing it with black dye is not permissible. Authentic Hadiths have been narrated from the Prophet in this regard. It is reported on the authority of Jabir bin 'Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: Abu Quhafah was brought to the Messenger of Allah on the day of the fall of Makkah and it was as if his head was a Thaghamah, so Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
"Take him to one of his wives and let her change (the color of his hair) with something and avoid black.

In Ahmad's version, he said (to Abu Bakr As-Siddiq):
"If you had left the old man in his house, we would have come to visit him out of respect for Abu Bakr. " So he (i.e. Abu Quhafah) embraced Islam and his beard was as white as the Thaghamah, so Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
"Verily the best thing which you can use to change the beard of this old man is henna and Katam."

It was recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i, At-Tirmithi, and Ibn Majah. At-Tirmithi graded it Sahih.

As for the difference between shaving the beard and dyeing its white hairs black, both of them are forbidden, but shaving the beard is more strictly forbidden than dyeing it black. And Allâh is the Granter of success. And may peace and blessings of Allâh be upon Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.