Short answer
Clothes dyed with saffron or safflower are makruh tahrimi for men in the Hanafi school. For plain bright red from other dyes the Hanafi scholars differ, and many advise men to avoid pure red, while red mixed with other colours, such as stripes or checks, is fine. The Shafi'i school allows plain red for men.
Clothing dyed with safflower (mu'asfar) or saffron (muza'far) is makruh tahrimi for men. On pure red from other dyes there are several views in the school; many muftis call it makruh tanzihi for men. Red with other colours is permitted.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Plain red is permitted for men. Saffron-dyed clothing is haram for men, while safflower-dyed clothing is permitted on the relied-upon view.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ saw Abdullah ibn Amr in two garments dyed with safflower, a bright orange-red dye, and said: these are the clothes of the disbelievers, so do not wear them. He also forbade men from using saffron on themselves. At the same time, al-Bara' said he saw the Prophet in a red hulla (a two-piece suit) and never saw anything more beautiful.
The scholars combine these reports. Many explain that the red hulla had red stripes woven with other colours rather than being solid red. So the Hanafi school forbids men the specific safflower and saffron dyes, and is cautious about solid bright red, while allowing red mixed with other colours. This is a matter of real difference among scholars, so keep the tone calm with those who follow another view.
In practice. A red-and-white shemagh, a checked shirt, a striped tie or a football kit with red and other colours is fine. A man may wish to avoid a completely red outfit. Women may wear red and any other colour freely.
Pink and other colours. There is no special ruling on pink, purple or other colours for men. The only question is whether a particular item is cut as a women's style. White is the colour the Prophet praised most: see the dress code for men.
The evidence
Sahih Muslim 2077
Sahih... إن هذه من ثياب الكفار فلا تلبسها ...
"These are the clothes of the disbelievers, so do not wear them."
Said about safflower-dyed garments on a man.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5846
Sahih... نهى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يتزعفر الرجل ...
"The Prophet forbade men from using saffron."
The prohibition of saffron dye for men.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3551
Sahih... رأيته في حلة حمراء لم أر شيئا قط أحسن منه ...
"I saw him in a red suit, and I never saw anything more beautiful than him."
Shows red in some form is allowed, which scholars explain as striped red.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, section on clothing. The views within the school on red, safflower and saffron for men.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on clothing. Safflower and saffron-dyed clothing for men.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Kitab Salat al-Khawf, chapter on what may be worn. The Shafi'i rulings on saffron and safflower.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.