“...whoever grows a gray hair in Islam, it will be a light for him on the Day of Resurrection.” (99) Both are reported (100) by al-Khallal in his "Jami'".
Section: It is disliked to shave the nape of the neck for one who has not shaved his head and does not need to do so. Al-Marwudhi said: I asked Abu Abd Allah about shaving the nape of the neck. He said: “It is from the practice of the Magians, and whoever imitates a people is one of them.” He also said: “There is no harm in shaving one's nape at the time of cupping.” [And al-Khallal narrated with his chain of authority from al-Haytham ibn Humayd, (101) who said: “Shaving the nape is from the practice of the Magians.”] (102).
As for shaving the face, Muhanna said: I asked Abu Abd Allah about shaving [the face]? He said: “There is no harm in it for women, but I dislike it for men.”
Section: It is recommended to dye gray hair with colors other than black. Ahmad said: “I truly see a gray-haired man who has dyed his hair, and I rejoice at it.” He once spoke to a man and said: “Why do you not dye your hair?” The man replied: “I am embarrassed.” He said: “Subhan Allah! It is the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)!” Al-Marwudhi said: I said: “It is related from Bishr ibn al-Harith that he said: Ibn Dawud said to me: (103) ‘Have you dyed your hair?’ I replied: ‘I do not have enough spare time to wash my hair, so how could I have time to dye it!’” He [Ahmad] said: “I dispute that Bishr would have revealed his private actions to Ibn Dawud.” Then he said: “The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: ‘Change the gray hair,’ (104) and Abu Bakr and Umar used to dye their hair.”
(99) Regarding this topic, there are reports from others besides Tariq ibn Habib. See: The Book of What Has Been Said Regarding the Virtue of One Who Grows a Gray Hair for the Sake of Allah, from the Chapters on Virtues, Aridat al-Ahwadhi bi-Sharh Sahih al-Tirmidhi 7/130, 131; and: The Book of the Reward of One Who Shoots an Arrow for the Sake of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, from the Book of Jihad, al-Mujtaba min Sunan al-Nasa'i 6/23, 24; and al-Musnad by Imam Ahmad 2/179, 207, 210, 4/113, 236, 386, 6/20. (100) In M: “It is reported.” (101) Al-Ghassani, their mawla, the Damascene, Abu Ahmad. He narrated from al-Awza'i and others. He is truthful (saduq) and there is no harm in him. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 11/92, 93. (102) Omitted from: M. (103) Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Dawud ibn Ali al-Zahiri, the jurist, one of the most intelligent people in the world, who died in the year two hundred and ninety-seven. Tabaqat al-Fuqaha by al-Shirazi 175, 176; al-'Ibar 2/108. (104) Reported by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Book of What Has Been Said Regarding Dyeing Hair, from the Chapters on Dress. Aridat al-Ahwadhi 7/254. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Book of Permission for Dyeing Hair, from the Book of Adornment. Al-Mujtaba 11918. And Imam Ahmad, in: The Musnad 1/165, 2/261, 356, 499, 3/247, 338.
