Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 1197

Umar bin Aban bin Mufaddal al-Madani narrates: Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) showed me ablution by performing it. He took a water vessel and placed it on his left side, then poured water over his right hand and washed it three times. Then he turned the vessel around to his right side and washed it three times. Then he wiped his head three times, and for his ears he took fresh water and wiped his ear. I said: You have wiped your ears too! He said: O boy! These two (ears) are part of the head, not part of the face (that is, they are to be wiped like the head, not washed with the face). Then he asked: O boy! Have you seen? Have you understood? Or shall I repeat it for you? I said: It is sufficient for me, and I have understood. He said: This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) perform ablution.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat and al-Mu'jam al-Saghir. Al-Dhahabi says: It is not known who the narrator Umar bin Aban is. (Al-Haythami says:) I say: Ibn Hibban mentioned him in the book al-Thiqat.