How to Wash the Face During Wudu and Perform Beard Khilal?

What Are the Boundaries of the Face in Wudu?

After rinsing the mouth and sniffing water into the nose, the face is to be washed.

• Vertically: from the hairline at the top of the forehead down to the bottom of the chin.
• Horizontally: from one earlobe to the other.

The entire area between these boundaries constitutes the face for the purposes of Wudu.

What Is the Practical Method of Washing the Face?

The Sunnah method of washing the face is as follows:

• Water is taken in the right hand, the left hand is joined to it, and water is applied
  to the upper part of the face.
• Both hands then spread the water across the entire face so that no part remains dry.
• This is done three times.
  

What Does the Quran and Hadith Say About Washing the Face in Wudu?

The Quranic Command

Allah (SWT) says in Surah al-Maidah (5:6):

• “O you who believe, when you stand for prayer, wash your faces.”

The Hadith

Mughira ibn Shuba (RA) Narrates in a mutafaq ‘alayh (agreed upon) report:

• “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed Wudu, rinsed his mouth, sniffed water into his nose, and washed his face.”
  (Sahih al-Bukhari: 2918)
  

Does the Count Refer to How Many Times Water Is Carried or How Many Times the Face Is Fully Washed?

It is important to understand that the count refers to how many times the face is completely washed, not how many times water is carried to it.

If a person takes water in both hands and only wets half the face, then takes water again
and wets the remaining half so that the entire face is finally wet, this counts as one wash,
even though water was carried twice.

The count is always based on how many times the entire face has been fully washed:
once, twice, or three times.

What Is the Ruling on Performing Khilal of the Beard During Wudu?

According to the method of the Prophet (ﷺ), khilal (combing the fingers through)
of the beard is performed after washing the face.

Anas (RA) narrates:

• “When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed Wudu, he would take a handful of water and pass it under his chin to perform khilal of his beard, and he said: My Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, has commanded me to do so.”
  (Sunan Abi Dawud: 145)
  

What Is the Difference Between Washing a Thin Beard and a Thick Beard?

Thin beard: If the beard is thin enough that the skin beneath it is visible, it must be washed thoroughly so that water reaches the skin underneath.

Thick beard: If the beard is thick and the skin beneath it is not visible, the surface of the beard is washed and then a handful of water is passed underneath the beard, with the fingers combing through it from outside to inside to perform proper khilal.