Musnad Ishaq

Benefits:
From the aforementioned hadith, it is understood that it is not permissible for a Muslim to strike the face. This applies whether the person is a slave, servant, student, or even a close relative. As it is mentioned in a marfu‘ narration from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu:

((إِذَا ضَرَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ خَادِمَهُ فَلْيَجْتَنِبِ الْوَجْهَ)) (Sahih Adab al-Mufrad, no. 130; Adab al-Mufrad: 174)
“When one of you strikes his servant, he should avoid the face.”

And even when giving a punishment, one should not strike the face. As it is stated in Sahih Muslim: The words ((إِذَا ضَرَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ)) are used: even if it is an animal.

As Sayyiduna Jabir radi Allahu anhu narrates: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam passed by an animal whose face had been branded with a hot iron, and incense was being burned in its nostrils. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “May Allah curse the one who did this. No one should brand the face, nor strike the face.” (Adab al-Mufrad, no. 175) Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah has declared this authentic.

Why is striking the face prohibited?
➊ One reason appears to be that the face is the manifestation of human beauty and elegance, and most of a person’s senses—such as seeing, hearing, tasting, and smelling—are located in the face. Thus, by striking the face, there is a risk of losing all or any one of these senses, as well as the risk of disfigurement.

➋ In the narration of “Musnad Ahmad,” it is stated: When one of you fights with his brother, he should avoid the face, because Allah, the Exalted, created Adam in His image. (Musnad Ahmad: 2/244)

In another hadith it is stated:
((مَنْ قَاتَلَ فَلْيَجْتَنِبِ الْوَجْهَ فَإِنَّ صُورَةَ وَجْهِ الْإِنْسَانِ عَلَى صُورَةِ وَجْهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ)) (Kitab al-Sunnah by Ibn Abi ‘Asim, no. 516, 521)