A: The authentic Hadith from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in this regard declares: When any one of you beats (another), he should avoid the face, for Allah created Adam in His image. According to another wording: "In the form of the All­Merciful." This statement does not entail Tashbih [comparison] or Tamthil (likening Allah's Attributes to those of His Creation). According to the scholars, the meaning is that Allah (Exalted be He) created Adam with the ability to hear, see, and speak when he wills similar to Allah, for He is All­Hearing, All­Seeing, and He speaks when He wills. Allah also has a Face, (Glorified and Exalted be He). However, this does not imply that there is any Tashbih or Tamthil between the created and the Creator. The Attributes of Allah (Exalted be He) differ from that of His creatures. This only means He is All­Hearing, All­Seeing, He speaks when He wills. Allah (Exalted be He) also created Adam able to hear and see, and with a face, hands and feet. However, human faculties of hearing, seeing, and speaking bear no resemblance to those of Allah (Exalted be He). Rather, Allah (Exalted be He) has Attributes that befit His Majesty and Might, and nothing can be compared to Him, and man has attributes that befit him; attributes that are finite and imperfect whereas the Attributes of Allah are perfect, everlasting, and infinite. Therefore, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), describes Himself, saying: There is nothing like Him; and He is the All­Hearer, the All­Seer. Allah (Exalted be He) also says "And there is none co­equal or comparable unto Him." Thus, it is not permissible to slap or deform the human face.