Someone told me that they can do so. Kindly explain with details.
Stud
Not true... what kind of a religion will allow that? I would instantly become agnostic if that was true about Islam.
[This message has been edited by a_monad (edited February 27, 1999).]
Your question pertains the following verse:
"(Husbands) are the protectors and maintainers of their (wives) because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in the (husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. On to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) BEAT THEM (LIGHTLY); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High Great (above you all)." (4:34 - Yusuf Ali's translation, emphasis mine)
This is Yusuf Ali's translation. From it, it seems pretty clear that a husband can "beat" his wife "lightly".
This type of behaviour is definately not encouraged in Islam, the Prophet never raised his hand towards any women, but from this particular translation of the verse it is obviously sanctioned by Allah as an acceptable practice under certain conditions.
I forwarded your question on to a mailing list I'm part of to get the insights of some other Muslim's around the world. I'll update this post with their thoughts in the near future.
Achtung ;)
It does not make any sense to me... so if woman are disloyal, men can beat them (don't care if it is LIGHT or HARD, it is still uncivilized and violant) but what if men are disloyal? Are women allowed to beat them as well? (I bet not!!!) You know, we look towards religion too much for guidlines regarding simple, every day life routines. So many things in religion do not make sense anymore (they might have in the context of the society and times some hundreds of years ago). People need to understand that the basics that religion tried to teach people are already part of our knowledge (even genetically). And there are other things in religion which are timeless and wise. But beating wives is definitely not one of them.
My knowledge of Arabic is limited. I asked a friend for his opinion on the verse and he provided me with the following short analysis:
"About 4.34, much has been written on it. The verb used is based on the root 'da ra ba' which can mean beat, but can also mean to seperate , set an example, multiply and so on. I prefer the translation 'to seperate'
because of 2 reasons :
1)4.35, the next verses talks about details of seperation. The verse 4.35 begins with 'wa' or AND ...this makes it even clearer (at least, to me) that 'da ra ba' in 4.34 is to mean 'seperate.
2) In line with 2.256, there is no compulsion in Deen. The husband cannot force the wife to comply if she does not wish to do. The word
'deen' applies to all areas of our subsersvience to Allah. Therefore, we
cannot compel anyone in any matters of Deen. So 4.34 cannot then be translated as 'beat'."
From this analysis its quite clear that a husband cannot beat his wife (in any manner, light or hard). Its important to take the message of the Qur'an in its entirety. We must remember that Qur'anic translations do not equate to the true Qur'an. They are formed with the normative views of the men who translated them intact. This verse is a good case in point.
This analysis, combined with the historical evidence regarding the Prophet's treatment of his wives, makes the point quite clear - Islam does not tolerate or sanction spousal abuse of any form, for any reason.
Achtung ;)
Good point and analysis Achtung
Let me clearify this for your brothers. First of all, to jump to conclusions or to make our own assumptions is not required in Islamic teachings. There are ulama'as and Scholars whose opinion can be seeked in this matter if our knowledge in insufficient to answer the question at hand.
Husbands are allowed to beat their wives with a Miswak, and that too only lightly and avoiding the face. There has to be absolutely no bruises on her body. This is the extent of hitting that is allowed and nothing bigger then a Miswak could be used.
Now to the question why? This is because if the wife does not abide by the teachings of Islam. Hitting comes last before divorce(Note that divorce is most hated by Allah among the halal things).
First, stop eating with them. Second, stop talking with them. Third, stop sleeping with them. Fourth, stop buying them things which they want. Fifth, comes beating them in the prescribed way and even if this does not resolve the situation then the last resort is divorce.
Jhazak Allahu Khair
Ok, so question remains, what if men do the same thing? Are women allowed to beat them with Miswak as well? And do all the things that men are allowed to?
Dear HomiD,
Where did this "miswak" argument come from? Is it related in a hadith? I vaguely recall hearing the argument. I don't agree with it though, in my opinion spousal abuse (no matter what the conditions are) is unlawful under Islam.
With all due respect, why would you beat your wife with a miswak - how ridiculous would you look? Did the Prophet run around beating his wives with his toothbrush? I don't think so. I don't know where these ridiculous traditions originate from (definately not the Quran). There laughable.
If Islam is a religion which upholds equality, than why would it allow for male imposition of values, through force, on half of its believers (females). The orthodox Ulama purports the use of "miswak" beatings on women who disobey their husbands, particularly in religious affairs. This is contradictory to the Qur'anic verse "there is no compulsion in religion" - and as such should be refuted and dismissed.
Besides, honestly, what good will a "miswak" beating do, it is an extremely ineffective way of getting ones point across. If you exhaust other means than beat with your toothbrush? Thats funny. I think you should skip to divorce - the "miswak" will just tickle your wife, she'll laugh at you. And she should laugh, look at yourself, holding your toothbrush in your hand and jabbing her in the stomack lightly asking her to change her ways. Thats comedy!
Achtung ;)
[This message has been edited by Achtung (edited March 03, 1999).]
Please no more hilarious stories of running around with a toothbrush…I was rolling. ---smile—
Stud
I’m taking a different interpretation of the Quranic verse.
As Homid described, as far as I know, the guidelines are true. They are a manner at which to calm rage and prevent impulsive striking out.
Instead of seeing this as allowing women to be beaten. As in allah says I must beat you to samgay you… instead see it as Allah (swt) placing limits on the abuse women suffer.
But I’m sure there are hadith’s that justify to the searching mind why it is acceptable to beat their wives and children. In addition few really go through the method that is prescribed.
So as a_monad asked how does a wife samjay her husband?