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Is it forbidden to strike the face in a way that causes no pain, and is it considered one of the major sins?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The prohibition of striking the face has been established in authentic hadiths, and it is absolutely forbidden. In Subul al-Salam, Al-San'ani stated that the face is delicate, encompasses beauty, and is the primary organ of perception. Striking it may lead to the nullification, reduction, or disfigurement of these functions. Disfigurement of the face is particularly egregious because it is prominent and visible, making it impossible to conceal. This prohibition applies generally to all forms of striking and slapping, whether for discipline or otherwise. Islamic law has not differentiated between painful and non-painful striking, nor has it specified whether striking the face is a major or minor sin. However, its prohibition is sufficient to deter and prevent it.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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