within the definition of the face. As for hair that hangs down from the head, it is not included as part of the head, because the term “head” is derived from elevation; whatever extends below the hairline is not elevated.
Passing the fingers through it may be done in two ways:
The first is to take a handful of water, place it beneath the beard, and rub it so that the water passes through it.
The second is to take a handful of water and run one’s fingers through the beard like a comb. The evidence is the statement of Uthman: “The Prophet ﷺ would pass his fingers through his beard during ablution.” (1) Although there is some criticism concerning this hadith’s chain of transmission, it has numerous routes and corroborating reports indicating that it rises to the level of sound, at the very least. Accordingly, passing the fingers through a thick beard is a sunnah.
The scholars have mentioned that ensuring water reaches the hair falls into three categories: (2)
(1) Reported by al-Tirmidhi, Book of Purification, chapter on reports concerning running the fingers through the beard, no. 31; Ibn Majah, Book of Purification, chapter on reports concerning running the fingers through the beard, no. 430; and others, from Uthman ibn Affan. Its chain includes Amir ibn Shuqayq, who is weak in hadith transmission.
However, it has a corroborating report from Anas, narrated by Abu Dawud, Book of Purification, chapter on running the fingers through the beard, no. 145, and by al-Hakim, 1:149, who declared it authentic. It also has numerous corroborating reports; see al-Talkhis al-Habir, no. 86.
The hadith was declared authentic by al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Khuzaymah, al-Hakim, Ibn Hibban, and Ibn al-Qattan, and graded sound by Ibn al-Mulaqqin. Al-Bukhari said: “The most authentic report concerning running the fingers through the beard, in my view, is the hadith of Uthman.” He was asked, “But they have criticized this hadith?” He replied, “It is sound.” Al-Ilal al-Kabir of al-Tirmidhi, 1:115.
(2) See al-Mughni, 1:164, 301-302; and al-Qawaid by Ibn Rajab, p. 4.