Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When any one of you strikes his servant, he should avoid striking the face."
Hadith Referenceالادب المفرد / كتاب / 174
Hadith Gradingالألبانی:صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«صحيح : أخرجه البخاري ، كتاب العتق ، باب إذا ضرب العبد فليجتنب الوجه : 2559 و مسلم : 2612»
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues: From this, it is understood that in case of necessity, a servant may be punished, but striking the face is forbidden (haram) because the face is honorable. Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has stated that the generality of this hadith requires that even in the case of prescribed punishments (hudud) and discretionary punishments (ta'zir), the face should not be struck. (Fath al-Bari: 5/182)
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 174