Al-Bajūrī said,
The author dedicated this chapter to listing the hadīths wherein the white hairs of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are mentioned. This chapter was placed after the chapter of the haircare of the Prophet because the latter includes actions (combing, oiling and styling the hair) that we can take as examples to follow.
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
This chapter will clarify whether the Prophet (peace be upon him) had any white hairs or not on his head or beard, and how many there were.
37. Qatādah related: “I asked Anas ibn Mālik, ‘Did the Messenger of Allāh (peace be upon him) dye his hair?’ He replied, ‘He did not need to for all he had were a few white hairs on his temples. However, Abū Bakr dyed his hair with henna and katam.’” [50]
Al-Bajūrī said,
“Did the Messenger of Allāh (peace be upon him) dye his hair?”: Meaning, did he change the colour of the white hairs in his head and beard using the henna or anything else.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī said,
“He did not need to for all he had were a few white hairs on his temples”: This indicates that he dyed the few white hairs he had on his temples. The Prophet (peace be upon him) dyed his hair as will be explained in the following chapter.
Abū Bakr dyed his hair using both henna and katam at the same time because using katam alone would make the hair colour completely black and this is condemned. This is supported by the explicit hadīth found in Sahīh Muslim.
Alī al-Qārī said,
Henna is a reddish brown dye used especially on hair. Katam is a plant that makes the hair black.
38. Anas ibn Mālik related: “I did not count more than fourteen white hairs on the head and beard of the Messenger of Allāh (peace be upon him).” [51]
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
The number of white hairs that Anas counted in the hair and beard of the Prophet (peace be upon him) explains why he stated that he did not need to dye his hair (see the previous hadīth).
Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī said,
“Fourteen white hairs”: Anas stated in another hadīth that there were seventeen or eighteen white hairs and that could be because he counted them on two different occasions.
Alī al-Qārī said,
Ibn Hajar said, “In Sahīh al-Bukhārī, ‘Abdullāh ibn Busr said that the white hairs of the Prophet did not exceed ten. This could be said in reference to the white hairs he had under his lower lip.”
39. Jābir ibn Samurah was asked about the white hair of Allāh’s Messenger (peace be upon him), and so he replied: “Whenever he oiled his hair, it (white hair) did not show. However when he did not oil it, it showed.” [52]
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
This corroborates the statement of Anas that the Prophet (peace be upon him) only had a few white hairs.
Al-Bajūrī said,
“Whenever he oiled his hair, it (white hair) did not show”: This is because the white hair became mixed with the glittering of the hair after it was oiled.
40. ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar narrated: “The Messenger of Allāh (peace be upon him) had about twenty white hairs.” [53]
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
This conforms to the reports of Jābir and Anas since Ibn ‘Umar gave an approximate number.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī said,
This hadīth does not contradict the previous hadīth of Anas who stated that he had fourteen white hairs. This is because the number fourteen is more than half of twenty and so it can be used to refer to the higher number [i.e. it is to give an approximate number].
41. ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās narrated: “Abū Bakr exclaimed, ‘O Messenger of Allāh, you have white hairs!’ The Messenger of Allāh (peace be upon him) replied, ‘Sūrahs Hūd, al-Wāqi`ah, al-Mursalāt, ‘Amma Yatasā’alūn (an-Nabā’) and Idhā-sh-Shamsu Kuwwirat (at-Takwīr) have turned my hair white.” [54]
Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī said,
The exclamation of Abū Bakr was because he was surprised to see white hairs on the Prophet (peace be upon him) due to the fact that his nature was balanced and his mood was neutral, and white hairs are unlikely to show on one with such characteristics.
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
The reason why these sūrahs made his hair turn white is because they talk about the terror of the Day of Judgment. This proves that the white hairs he had were not because of experiencing worldly issues but rather due to his concern and thoughtfulness about the Hereafter.
Al-Bajūrī said,
The reason why the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned Sūrah al-Hūd before the other sūrahs is because it includes the order to hold-fast to the straight path that only those whom Allāh has engulfed with the garment of His safety can perfect it.
42. Abū Juhaifah narrated: “Some people said to the Prophet (peace be upon him), ‘O Messenger of Allāh! Your hair has turned white!’ He replied, ‘Sūrah Hūd and its sisters have turned my hair white.’” [55]
Al-Bajūrī said,
“... Its sisters”: This refers to all the sūrahs that are similar to Sūrah Hūd – that is to say, all the sūrahs that talk about the terror of the Day of Judgment.
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
The answer of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was an indirect way of stating that he had white hair because of his concern for the Hereafter. It shows the great effect of the Qur’ān and the immense benefits that can be procured when a person contemplates it and understands its meanings and signs. Whoever ponders upon the Qur’ān in the way it should be, they will be focused on the Hereafter without neglecting the necessary affairs in this worldly life. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O Allāh, do not let this worldly life be our biggest concern,”[56] which entails that it is fine for us to look after our worldly affairs but it should not preoccupy us and distract us from the purpose for which we were created – that is: worshipping Allāh alone and preparing to meet Him on the Last Day.
43. Abū Rimtha al-Taymī related: “I went with my son to see the Prophet (peace be upon him). When they showed him to me, I said immediately, ‘This is the Prophet of Allāh!’ He was wearing two pieces of green clothing, and there were some whites in his hair, which were dyed red in colour.” [57]
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
“When they showed him to me”: It appears as if this was his first time seeing the Prophet (peace be upon him) as someone pointed him out to him.
Al-Bajūrī said,
“This is the Prophet of Allāh!”: He said it to affirm to the one who led him to see the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he believed that the one whom he was shown was truly the Prophet i.e. it is like saying, “I believe you, O you who showed me the Prophet because I am now confident that he is the Prophet of Allāh after seeing the light of his prophethood and aura of his high-esteem.” It is also possible that he said that to his son i.e. “O son, this is the Prophet of Allāh!”
Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī said,
“Which were red in colour”: This conforms to the hadīth of Ibn ‘Umar who said that the colour of the edges of his white hair was red; they were dyed.
44. Jābir ibn Samurah was asked: “Were there any white hairs on the head of Allāh’s Messenger (peace be upon him)?” He replied, “He only had a few on the middle parting, but whenever he applied oil to his hair, they did not show.” [58]
Abdul Razzaq al-Badr said,
This description of the companions regarding the white hair of the Prophet (peace be upon him) shows that he used to uncover his head sometimes.
Al-Bajūrī said,
It is disliked to pluck the white hair according to the majority of scholars based on the hadīth, “Do not pluck out white-hairs, for they are the light of the Muslim.”[59]
Alī al-Qārī said,
As the white hairs did not show when he (peace be upon him) oiled his hair, this indicates that they were few.