Wiping the Head three Times During Ablution is Sunnah

Commenting on the statement of Shaykh Sayyid Sabiq (may Allaah have mercy on him) in Fiqhus-Sunnah that there is nothing authentic from the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) that he wiped his head more than once, Shaykh al–Albaanee said, It is authentically reported from the hadeeth of Uthmaan (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) wiped his head three times. Aboo Daawood recorded this hadeeth with two sound chains of narration. There is a third isnaad from Aboo Daawood which is also sound. 

I have spoken about these chains of narration in detail in Saheeh Abee Daawood (no. 95, 98)... And it is the truth because even if the narration talking about wiping the head once are numerous they do not contradict the narration that mentioned three times since the issue is that it is Sunnah and it is something that should be done sometimes and abandon sometimes. This is the view of as-San’aanee in Subulus-Salaam, so refer to it if you wish.

Taking from Tamaamul-Minnah p. 91 by Shaykh al-Albaanee