His Father’s Acceptance of Islam

Both parents of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had the opportunity to accept Islam. The account of his father’s acceptance of Islam is as follows. His father had not accepted Islam by the time of the conquest of Mecca and by that time, he had already lost his eyesight. When the Holy Prophet (sa) entered the Sacred Mosque [Masjid al-Haram] on the occasion of the conquest of Mecca, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) took his father and brought him to the Holy Prophet (sa). When the Holy Prophet (sa) saw them, he said, “Abu Bakr! You should have left this elderly gentleman at home and I would have gone to him myself.” Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! It is more befitting that he comes to you rather than you going to him.” [Following this,] Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) seated him in front of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) placed his hand over his chest and said, “Accept Islam and you will have peace!” Hence, Abu Quhafah accepted Islam.

(Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, Vol. 4, Dhikr Uthman bin Amir, Abu Quhafah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2005], pp. 374-375)

Hazrat Jabir (ra) bin Abdillah relates, “Abu Quhafah was brought on the day of the conquest of Mecca and the hair on his head and his beard had already turned white in the likeness of Saghama [type of flower].” In relation to Saghama it is said that it was a white flower that grew in the mountains. Nevertheless, the hair on his head and his beard were completely white. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “You should change its colour” i.e. he should dye it and it would be better to dye it with another colour. “However, you should avoid black.”

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Adab, Bab fi Sabgh al-Sha‘r wa Taghyir al-Shaib, Hadith 3911, translated, Vol. 11, pp. 198-199)

This does not mean that there is something wrong with dying the hair black; rather, the Holy Prophet (sa) might have considered that the hair being completely black at this age might not suit his countenance. Nevertheless, the Holy Prophet (sa) said that it should be dyed.