What is the ruling on wiping the face after supplication?

Question:
Regarding the ruling on wiping the face after supplication?

Answer:
There are no authentic hadiths regarding wiping the face; rather, there are hadiths on this matter that are not free from weakness. Therefore, the stronger and more correct view is that one should not wipe his face with his hands. Some scholars have stated that there is no harm in doing so, because there are hadiths on this matter that support one another, even though they are weak, but they may strengthen one another such that they become hasan li-ghayrihi (good for other than itself), as al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar mentioned in his book (Bulugh al-Maram) in the final chapter.
The point is that there are no authentic hadiths regarding wiping the face. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it in the prayer for rain, nor in any of the other occasions where he raised his hands, such as his position at al-Safa and al-Marwah, at 'Arafah, at Muzdalifah, and at the stoning pillars. It was not reported that he wiped his face with his hands when he made supplication. This indicates that it is better to leave it. And success is from Allah.