Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Wife Beating: Difference between revisions

The [[Qur'an]] clearly lays down the steps to be taken by a husband dealing with a rebellious wife: first he is to admonish her verbally, then he is refuse to sleep with her, and finally if she continues in her rebellion he is to beat her. This three-part plan forms the core of Islamic norms of authority in the marriage. The prophet Muhammad, both by his example and his instruction, enjoined the believers to beat their rebellious wives as he had. As a core principle of Islamic law, the condoning of wife-beating lives on today in the [[fatwa|fataawa]] of modern Islamic scholars, and [[Islamic Law]] does not recognize the beating of wives by their husbands as a crime unless grievous bodily injury results to the wife.  

==Qur'an==

{{Quote|{{Quran|4|34}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, 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. '''As 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).  

===Prophet Ayyub (Job) was permitted to beat his wife===

==Hadith==

====Muhammad struck his child-bride on the chest which caused her pain====

{{Quote|{{Muslim|4|2127}}|... He (Muhammad b. Qais) then reported that it was 'A'isha who had narrated this: Should I not narrate to you about myself and about the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)? We said: Yes. She said: When it was my turn for Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) to spend the night with me, he turned his side, put on his mantle and took off his shoes and placed them near his feet, and spread the corner of his shawl on his bed and then lay down till he thought that I had gone to sleep. He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on the shoes slowly, and opened the door and went out and then closed it lightly. I covered my head, put on my veil and tightened my waist wrapper, and then went out following his steps till he reached Baqi'. He stood there and he stood for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened my steps. He ran and I too ran. He came (to the house) and I also came (to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and as I lay down in the bed, he (the Holy Prophet) entered the (house), and said: Why is it, O 'A'isha, that you are out of breath? I said: There is nothing. He said: Tell me or the Subtle and the Aware would inform me. I said: Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be ransom for you, and then I told him (the whole story). He said: Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. '''He struck me on the chest which caused me pain''', and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?..."}}

{{Quote||Sulayman Ibn `Amr Ibn al-`Ahwas narrated: "Ubai told me that he witnessed the address of departure of the prophet. He thanked God and praised him, and started preaching, saying, "I command you good-will for your wives, for they are captives to you that do not own anything, unless they commit a manifest obscenity [or adultery]. If they do [commit it], then God has given you permission to leave them alone in their beds and '''give them a bearable beating."'''<ref>Muslim, Hajj 137; al-Tirmidsi, Radha` 11, Tafsir Sura al-Tawba 9:2; Abu Dawud, Manasik 56; Ibn Maja, Nikah 3, Manasik 84; al-Darimi, Manasik 34; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, 5:73.</ref>}}

====But prohibited men from having sex with their wives after flogging them====

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|72|715}}|Narrated 'Ikrima: Rifa'a divorced his wife whereupon 'AbdurRahman bin Az-Zubair Al-Qurazi married her. 'Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil (and complained to her (Aisha) of her husband and '''showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating). It was the habit of ladies to support each other,''' so when Allah's Apostle came, ''''Aisha said, "I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!"''' When 'AbdurRahman heard that his wife had gone to the Prophet, he came with his two sons from another wife. She said, "By Allah! I have done no wrong to him but he is impotent and is as useless to me as this," holding and showing the fringe of her garment, 'Abdur-Rahman said, "By Allah, O Allah's Apostle! She has told a lie! I am very strong and can satisfy her but she is disobedient and wants to go back to Rifa'a." Allah's Apostle said, to her, "If that is your intention, then know that it is unlawful for you to remarry Rifa'a unless Abdur-Rahman has had sexual intercourse with you." Then the Prophet saw two boys with 'Abdur-Rahman and asked (him), "Are these your sons?" On that 'AbdurRahman said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "You claim what you claim (i.e.. that he is impotent)? But by Allah, these boys resemble him as a crow resembles a crow,"}}

{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah|9|3|9|1985}}|It was narrated that Iyas bin 'Abdullah bin Abu Dhubab said:

   

{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah|9|3|9|1986}}|It was narrated that Ash'ath bin Qais said:

   

"I was a guest (at the home) of 'Umar one night, and in the middle of the night he went and hit his wife, and I separated them. When he went to bed he said to me: 'O Ash'ath, '''learn from me something that I heard from the Messenger of Allah" A man should not be asked why he beats his wife''', and do not go to sleep until you have prayed the Witr."' And I forgot the third thing." (Hasan)}}

===Rightly-Guided Caliphs===