Wife Beating in the Qur'an

The Qur'an's fourth chapter, An-Nisaa' النساء, deals with a number of issues relating to men and women, and the relationship between husband and wife. Amongst these issues is the issue of when it is permissible for a husband to physically strike or beat his wife. One verse in particular, 4:34, lays out a three-scheme for how husbands, fearing nushuuz نشوزor disobediance from their wives, are to deal with them. In summary the steps are to first admonish her, then banish her to a different bed, and finally to beat her. The admonition is layed out in a matter-of-fact, very practical way, and it can thus be assumed that the Qur'an's audience was not highly disturbed nor surpised by this holy injunction for domestic violence. Over the centuries the mufassirun have taken up this verse and different scholars from different schools have come to different conclusions on the meaning of the verse vis-a-vis the three-step formula and what the meaning is exactly of nushuuz. All of the traditional scholars agree, however, that one way or another beating is an option that is available to the man. Modern progressive Muslims, under the influence of modern secular liberalism and its firm conviction that wife beating is never acceptable, have however rejected this tradition. 

Introduction

Linguistic Analysis of Verse in Arabic

Asbab An-Nuzuul of the Verse

Tafsirs of the Verse

Modern Tafsirs

Abul A'la Al-Maududi (1903-1979)

Classical Tafsirs

Evidence from the Hadith

Modern Views and Perspectives on the Meaning of Qur'an 4:34

See Also

• Wife Beating in Islamic Law

External Links

• Marriage to Minors: Surah At-Talaq (65:4) - Answering Islam

References