Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 115 ⓘ
‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Laila says: I saw ‘ Ali performing ablution. He washed his face three times and his hands three times and wiped his head once. Then he (‘Ali) said: The Messenger of Allah used to perform ablution in this way.
حَدَّثَنَا زِيَادُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ الطُّوسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا فِطْرٌ، عَنْ أَبِي فَرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا - رضى الله عنه - تَوَضَّأَ فَغَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا وَغَسَلَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ ثَلاَثًا وَمَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا تَوَضَّأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
also referenced under: Hadith 115 (DarusSalam) & Book 1, Hadith 115 (USC-MSA)