Short answer
For most purposes, yes. In the Hanafi school, dyeing grey hair pure black is makruh tahrimi for men and women, according to most of its scholars, with an exception for soldiers in battle. Dark brown, chestnut and henna shades are allowed. The Shafi'i school calls black dye haram, while Malikis and Hanbalis call it makruh.
Dyeing the hair or beard jet black is makruh tahrimi according to most Hanafi scholars, except for a fighter who does it to appear strong to the enemy. Abu Yusuf allowed it for adornment between spouses, but the fatwa follows the majority. Very dark brown that is not true black is permitted.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Black dye is haram except for jihad.
- Maliki
- Black dye is makruh, not haram.
- Hanbali
- Black dye is makruh.
Explanation
The key hadith is about Abu Quhafa, the father of Abu Bakr, whose hair and beard were completely white on the day Makkah was opened. The Prophet ﷺ said: change this with something, and avoid black. Another hadith warns of people at the end of time who dye with black and will not smell the scent of Paradise. From these, most Hanafi scholars held that black dye is disliked to the point of sin.
The scholars give two reasons. It goes against a direct instruction, and it can deceive, for example about a person's age when seeking marriage. The exception for soldiers comes from the early Muslims, some of whom dyed black in war to look young and strong to the enemy.
What can you use instead? Henna gives red to orange tones, and henna mixed with katam (a plant dye) or indigo gives dark brown. Commercial dyes in brown, chestnut or dark brown are fine. If a "black henna" or a box dye leaves your hair truly jet black, the same ruling applies, so choose a shade that is clearly brown.
Two practical points. Normal hair dye soaks into the hair and leaves no coating, so your wudu and ghusl are valid. And dyeing hair that is not grey at all, for example from brown to black, is a separate question on which scholars differ; it is safer to avoid jet black. For other colours, see can you dye your hair in Islam.
The evidence
Sahih Muslim 2102
Sahih... غيروا هذا بشيء واجتنبوا السواد ...
"Change this with something, and avoid black."
Commands colouring grey hair but excludes black.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4212
Graded sahih... يكون قوم يخضبون في آخر الزمان بالسواد كحواصل الحمام ...
"At the end of time there will be people who dye with black like the breasts of pigeons; they will not smell the fragrance of Paradise."
A severe warning about black dye.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4205
Graded sahih... إن أحسن ما غير به هذا الشيب الحناء والكتم ...
"The best things with which to change grey hair are henna and katam."
Points to the recommended alternatives.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on adornment, rings and jewellery. Black dye is disliked according to most of the scholars, with the exception for fighters and Abu Yusuf's view.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha. Dyeing with henna is good and black is disliked.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on the siwak and the practices of the fitrah. The Shafi'i ruling that black dye is haram.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.