By the beard of the prophet

I had seen this picture on LGF, and was pondering the strange habit of these sheikh types to dye their grizzled hair and beards a screamingly fake Pavarotti...


...Death in Venice...


...black. I got to wondering whether this practice is haram: surely, if Allah sends grey hairs, man is not worthy to defy or deny them? I dialled up the helpful Ask an Imam site: the very first question sitting there on the notice board was on this precise subject. Spooky. The answer is somewhat confusing. Apparently men are allowed to dye their hair, but in any colour except black. I always knew Henry Ford wasn't a muslim.