Abstract

: The question as to whether or not it was allowed to dye one’s hair, became heavily discussed in early Islam. So we find controversial traditions on this problem. Dyeing the hair however, was not only under discussion in religious circles, but also in topics taken by poets. In Arabic poetry, grey hair meant old age. As a consequence, it was the end of love and youthful life. Dyeing the hair therefore, was a means to cheat the ladies about the real age of the poet. The poets did not have so much religious scruples, since for them the effectiveness of dyeing was the point. On this however, some poets had their doubts. The article gives an overview on how Arabic poets treated the pro and contra of dyeing the hair – some doing it in a self-ironical way.