Source: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم:
إذا قاتل أحدكم فليجتنب الوجه
[متفق عليه]
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When one of you fights, he must avoid the face.”
(Agreed upon by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
References:
➊ Prohibition of Striking the Face
This hadith clearly shows that striking another Muslim’s face is prohibited, even if:
Another narration from Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) states:
"When one of you strikes his servant, he must avoid the face."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Adab al-Mufrad, Ḥadīth no. 130]
Even in moments of anger or conflict, it is haram to strike a fellow Muslim on the face—even a slap. Another narration says:
"When one of you fights his brother, he must not slap the face."
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah 116]
➋ Even During Punishment, Avoid the Face
One narration replaces قاتل (fights) with ضرب (strikes), proving the ruling applies not just during conflict, but even during disciplinary punishment.
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah 112]
This confirms that striking the face is strictly forbidden in all circumstances.
➌ Boxing and Similar Combat Sports
Since boxing directly targets the face, it falls under the prohibition of this hadith.
Scholars classify such sports as ḥarām due to their violent and dehumanizing nature, especially the deliberate targeting of the head and face.
➍ Why Is Striking the Face Prohibited?
There are two major reasons:
① Human dignity and beauty:
Such harm is a clear violation of another human’s rights, even in the name of discipline.
② Religious reason stated by the Prophet ﷺ:
"Avoid the face, for Allah created Adam in His image."
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah 115]
Interpretation:
Caution:
Though such narrations exist, the true nature and meaning of “in His image” (ʿala ṣūratih) remains with Allah alone.
As Allah says:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
[Ash-Shūrā: 11]
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
Thus, no one may liken the Creator to His creation.
➎ Striking the Face of Disbelievers in Jihād
Some scholars argue that striking the face even of a disbeliever in battle is prohibited, but this opinion is not correct. The following evidences prove otherwise:
Disbelievers have no honor in Islamic law due to their rejection of truth.
"They are like cattle—nay, more astray."
[Al-Aʿrāf: 179]
On the Day of Judgment, even Ibrāhīm’s father Āzar will have his face transformed into a hyena.
[Bukhārī, Kitāb Aḥādīth al-Anbiyāʾ / 8]
Dignity and honor in Islam is reserved for the believers:
"Honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers."
[Al-Munāfiqūn: 8]
In battle, Allah commands:
"Strike above the necks and strike every fingertip of theirs."
[Al-Anfāl: 12]
This includes the head and face. It is practically impossible to avoid the face when targeting the skull.
Regarding death of disbelievers, Allah says:
"The angels strike their faces and backs..."
[Muhammad: 27]
In the Battle of Ḥunayn, when the disbelievers surrounded the Prophet ﷺ, he threw a handful of dust at their faces, saying:
"May the faces be disfigured."
[Muslim, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar / 81]
The dust entered their eyes, and they were defeated and humiliated. The Prophet ﷺ deliberately targeted their faces.
➏ Retaliation (Qiṣāṣ) and Striking the Face
In the case of retributive justice, striking the face is allowed if it fulfills the principle of exact retaliation:
"So whoever transgresses against you, then transgress against him in the same manner as he transgressed against you."
[Al-Baqarah: 194]
"We ordained for them in it (the Torah): a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds, retribution."
[Al-Māʾidah: 45]
If the injury or damage was to the face, then Qiṣāṣ (legal retaliation) must be served proportionately.
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
Hadith Reference:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم:
إذا قاتل أحدكم فليجتنب الوجه
[متفق عليه]
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When one of you fights, he must avoid the face.”
(Agreed upon by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
References:- [Bukhārī 2559]
- [Muslim, Kitāb al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah 112]
- Also see Tuhfat al-Ashrāf [10/204]
✦ Key Lessons and Rulings
➊ Prohibition of Striking the Face
This hadith clearly shows that striking another Muslim’s face is prohibited, even if:
- It is during a fight
- Or for disciplinary purposes (e.g., disciplining a servant, student, or child)
Another narration from Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) states:"When one of you strikes his servant, he must avoid the face."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Adab al-Mufrad, Ḥadīth no. 130]
Even in moments of anger or conflict, it is haram to strike a fellow Muslim on the face—even a slap. Another narration says:
"When one of you fights his brother, he must not slap the face."
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah 116]
➋ Even During Punishment, Avoid the Face
One narration replaces قاتل (fights) with ضرب (strikes), proving the ruling applies not just during conflict, but even during disciplinary punishment.
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah 112]
This confirms that striking the face is strictly forbidden in all circumstances.
➌ Boxing and Similar Combat Sports
Since boxing directly targets the face, it falls under the prohibition of this hadith.
Scholars classify such sports as ḥarām due to their violent and dehumanizing nature, especially the deliberate targeting of the head and face.
➍ Why Is Striking the Face Prohibited?
There are two major reasons:
① Human dignity and beauty:
- The face is the center of human appearance and beauty.
- All five main senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) are located in the face.
- Striking the face may permanently damage a person’s senses or disfigure them.
Such harm is a clear violation of another human’s rights, even in the name of discipline.
② Religious reason stated by the Prophet ﷺ:
"Avoid the face, for Allah created Adam in His image."
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah 115]
Interpretation:- The prohibition is rooted in the sacredness of the human face.
- Some narrations say:
"For the face of man is in the image of the face of the Most Merciful."
(Kitāb al-Sunnah by Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim; also quoted in Fatḥ al-Bārī, vol. 5, ḥadīth 2559)
Caution:Though such narrations exist, the true nature and meaning of “in His image” (ʿala ṣūratih) remains with Allah alone.
As Allah says:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
[Ash-Shūrā: 11]
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
Thus, no one may liken the Creator to His creation.
➎ Striking the Face of Disbelievers in Jihād
Some scholars argue that striking the face even of a disbeliever in battle is prohibited, but this opinion is not correct. The following evidences prove otherwise:
Disbelievers have no honor in Islamic law due to their rejection of truth."They are like cattle—nay, more astray."
[Al-Aʿrāf: 179]
On the Day of Judgment, even Ibrāhīm’s father Āzar will have his face transformed into a hyena.[Bukhārī, Kitāb Aḥādīth al-Anbiyāʾ / 8]
Dignity and honor in Islam is reserved for the believers:
"Honor belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers."
[Al-Munāfiqūn: 8]
In battle, Allah commands:"Strike above the necks and strike every fingertip of theirs."
[Al-Anfāl: 12]
This includes the head and face. It is practically impossible to avoid the face when targeting the skull. Regarding death of disbelievers, Allah says:"The angels strike their faces and backs..."
[Muhammad: 27]
In the Battle of Ḥunayn, when the disbelievers surrounded the Prophet ﷺ, he threw a handful of dust at their faces, saying:"May the faces be disfigured."
[Muslim, Kitāb al-Jihād wa al-Siyar / 81]
The dust entered their eyes, and they were defeated and humiliated. The Prophet ﷺ deliberately targeted their faces.
➏ Retaliation (Qiṣāṣ) and Striking the Face
In the case of retributive justice, striking the face is allowed if it fulfills the principle of exact retaliation:
"So whoever transgresses against you, then transgress against him in the same manner as he transgressed against you."
[Al-Baqarah: 194]
"We ordained for them in it (the Torah): a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds, retribution."
[Al-Māʾidah: 45]
If the injury or damage was to the face, then Qiṣāṣ (legal retaliation) must be served proportionately.
