Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: On the day of the conquest of Makkah, Sayyiduna Abu Quhafa was brought to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The hair of his head and beard were as white as the blossom of the Thagham plant, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Change the color of his hair, but avoid using black dye.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: On the day of the conquest of Makkah, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) brought Sayyiduna Abu Quhafa (may Allah be pleased with him) along with him. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr: "If you had left this elderly man at home and I myself had gone to him (that would have been appropriate)." (The narrator says:) The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said this to honor Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). The narrator states: Sayyiduna Abu Quhafa (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted Islam. The hair of his head and beard were white like the blossom of the Thaghamah plant. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Change his color, but avoid using black dye."

(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The statement of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Change his color," is, in wording, an imperative command, but regarding its manner, there is an option given. A person may change it with whatever he wishes, then black dye is excluded from this, and the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade it, so all other things will remain in their original state.