لَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَـمُ أنِّي مَـا أُوَقِّرُهُ كَتَمْتُ سِـرَّا بَـدَا لِيْ مِنْهُ بِالْكَتَمِ

15/3. If I had known that I would not (be able to) honour (this guest viz. old age) I would have concealed my secret, which has become exposed, by dyeing it with katam

(a black plant which has within it a reddish colour).

In this portion, Allaamah Buseeri Rahimahullaah is expressing his sorrow regarding the disobedience of his nafs. He says that he has not accepted the advice of old age due to his evil nafs. If he had known that he would not be able to honour old age (by abandoning sin and performing righteous actions), he would not have exposed his old age. He would have ensured that he kept it hidden with henna.
This would have saved him from the criticism and condemnation of people who say that this old man’s condition is no different from that when he was young. However, since he did not realize that he would not be able to honour it, he did not utilize henna.

Despite the fact that Allamah Buseeri Rahimahullaah made every effort to honour his old age, since he had an intense love for Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam, he always kept before himself  his shortcomings and weaknesses, feeling that he had not done enough.

Virtues Of White Hair

Here there is encouragement to honour one’s white hair. The first person to have white hair was Ibraaheem Alayhis Salaam.
Saeed ibn Musayyab Rahimahullaah said, “Ibraaheem Alayhis Salaam was the first person who saw white hair. He remarked, “O my Sustainer! What is this?”
Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo replied, “It is honour, O Ibraaheem.”
Ibraaheem Alayhis Salaam said, “O my Sustainer, increase me in honour.”
(Muattaa Maalik no. 3408)

Ka’b ibn Murrah RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that he heard Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam saying, “Whoever grows white hairs in Islam, it will be a light for him on the day of Judgement.”
(Tirmidhi no. 1634)

Amr ibn Shuaib narrates from his father who narrates from his grandfather that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Do not pluck the white hairs, because it is a light for a Muslim. Whoever grows white hair in Islaam, then in place of every hair, Allaah writes one good deed, removes one sin and raises the person by one rank.”
(Musnad Ahmad no. 6672)

In some narrations, this subject matter is related that Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo feels ashamed to punish those with white hair.
Anas RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates from Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam that Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo said,
“I feel ashamed to punish in the Fire my male and female servant who have grown old in Islaam.”
(Musnad Abu Ya’laa no. 2764)

Honouring a person with white hair is including in respecting Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo as mentioned above.
Abu Moosa RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Honouring the following people entails honouring Allaah:
(1) An old Muslim.
(2) One who memorized the Quraan provided he does not transgress the laws of the Quraan and does not remain aloof from practising on it.
(3) A just ruler.”
(Abu Dawood no. 4843)

Usage Of Dye Or Henna  

When a person becomes old and his hair turns white, then to utilize henna or to dye one’s hair is mustahab.
However, it is not a compulsion as leaving the hair white is also encouraged in many narrations.

A few important points to note:

1. It is forbidden to use black dye.

Ibn Abbaas RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Some people in latter times will utilize black dye like the chests of pigeons. They will not even get the fragrance of Paradise.”
(Abu Dawood no. 4212)

Abu Dardaa RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Whoever uses black dye, Allaah will blacken his face on the Day of Judgement.”
(Majmauz Zawaaid vol. 5 page 163)

Mujaahid Rahimahullaah said, “The first person to utilize black dye was Firawn.”
(Musannaf ibn Abi Shaibah no. 36968)

However, jurists have allowed the usage of black dye in jihad. Any other colour (besides loud colours like blue, orange, pink, etc.) may be utilized.

2. Four types of dyes have been mentioned in the Ahaadeeth:

a. Henna (Mehndi)

b. Katam (This is a black plant which has some redness in it.) - Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“The best colour by which you can dye your white hairs are henna and katam.”
(Nasai no. 5077, Ibn Majah no. 3622)

c. Yellow colour - It is narrated that Ibn Umar, Uthmaan ibn Affaan, Abu Hurairah, Zaid ibn Wahab, Abdullah ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn Abbaas, Mughirah ibn Shu’bah RadhiAllaahu Anhum used to utilize a yellow colour dye.
Ibn Umar RadhiAllaahu Anhu said, “As for the yellow colour, I saw Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam dyeing his hair with it. I also love to dye with that colour.”
(Bukhaari no. 166)

d. Saffron – Some narrations indicate that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam used to use saffron. (Abu Dawood no. 1772, 4064, 4210)
However other narrations show that it is prohibited to utilize the saffron colour.
According to Imaam Abu Hanifah Rahimahullaah and Imaam Shaafi Rahimahullaah, it is makrooh to utilize saffron coloured dye. They say that it was permissible initially and thereafter abrogated.

3. Some Ahaadeeth mention the virtues of having white hair, whilst other Ahaadeeth command the usage of dye. Scholars have reconciled the various narrations in two ways:

a. It depends on the place. It is better for the person who stays in a place where people generally use dye, to use dye. It is better for the person who stays in a place where people generally do not use dye,
not to use dye.    

b. It depends on the person. A person who looks better with white hair should not dye his hair, whilst a person who looks better with dye should utilize it.  

Some scholars have stated that men with young wives should utilize dye and elderly men with older wives should preferably not do so. 

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ

To Be Continued In Sha Allaah