The Meaning of Daraba

The Qur'an (surah 4:34) says:

The word "wadribuuhunna" means "beat them (i.e. the wives of men)," but modern apologists, embarrassed about this obvious command for men to beat their wives in the Qur'an, have claimed rather that this verb means to "separate from them" or to "strike them out (sic)." All the verses that contain daraba against a human are understood to mean "beat" or "strike" that human, by their context, and this is agreed upon in all other cases by these obscurantist "modern" translations. The only reason to translate the verb "daraba" to mean "separate from them" is to obfuscate the meaning of the verse for modern readers who view the injunction for men to beat their wives as barbaric, inhumane, incompatible with modern human rights. The attempts to translate this word in this way is novel, done only for audiences in majority non-Muslim countries, and flies in the face of over a thousand years of Islamic commentary and exegesis.

Modern Claims

An argument has been presented on some (progressive) Islamic websites and by some (progressive) Muslims and apologists which claim to have "modern" translations of the Qur'an^[2], which claims that the Arabic verb "ضرب" "daraba" means something other than to "strike" "beat" or "hit." Alternatives offered include "separate from them" or somewhat nonsensically for a native English speaker "strike them out." The people making these claims are generally seeking to "reform" Islam, but this translation flies in the face of over a thousand years of understanding of the Arabic language, by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. These apologetic arguments are clearly directed people of a westernized/liberal background with little to no knowledge of Arabic, as any Muslim who has an adequate command of the Arabic language or any non-Muslim Arab, or any non-Arabic speaking Muslim familiar with the hadith and tafsir text related to this issue, will find the claim being presented to be ridiculous and prima facia untenable. Despite this, the obviously incorrect translation of this verb can be found in prominent cases such as that of Laleh Bakhtiar, an American Muslim apologist. She went so far as to incorporat this incorrect translation into her translation of the Qur'an, a translation which the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) refused to sell in their bookstore for its inaccuracy.

Agreed-Upon Translations

Almost all Qur'anic professional translators in English have translated the term as "beat them".

Yusuf Ali:

Pickthal:

Shakir:

Al-Hilali & Mohsin Khan:

Dr. T.B. Irving:

Muhammad Sarwar:

Rashad Khalifa:

Abdul-Majid Daryabadi:

E.H. Palmer:

Muhammad Ayub Khan:

Ahmed Raza Khan:

Hassan Qaribullah & Ahmad Darwish:

Mahmud Y. Zayid:

Muhammad Asad:

Qur'anic Meanings

The partisans of this argument attempt to back up their claim that daraba does not mean "to beat them" (i.e. their wives) in verse 4:34 by providing several other verses in the Qur'an which contain the word daraba, being used to describe an action other than "to beat" or "to strike":

1. To travel, to get out: See Quran 3:156; Quran 4:101; Quran 38:44; Quran 73:20; Quran 2:273
2. To strike: See Quran 2:60,Quran 2:73; Quran 7:160; Quran 8:12; Quran 20:77; Quran 24:31; Quran 26:63; Quran 37:93; Quran 47:4
3. To beat: Quran 8:50; See Quran 47:27
4. To set up: Quran 43:58; See Quran 57:113
5. To give examples: See Quran 14:24, Quran 14:45; Quran 16:75, Quran 16:76, Quran 16:112; Quran 18:32, Quran 18:45; Quran 24:35; Quran 30:28, Quran 30:58; Quran 36:78; Quran 39:27, Quran 39:29; Quran 43:17; Quran 59:21; Quran 66:10, Quran 66:11
6. To take away, to ignore: See Quran 43:5
7. To condemn: See Quran 2:61
8. To seal, to draw over: See Quran 18:11
9. To cover: See Quran 24:31
10. To explain: See Quran 13:17

Evidently, they have searched through the Qur'an for any verses which contain a derivative of the verb daraba and then have compared their meanings, concluding that there are ten different meanings for the verb daraba and something other than "to beat" can be applied to verse 4:34. Each of these differing usages of the verb daraba are thoroughly analyzed below along with the verses in which they appear.

A careful study of all the the above mentioned verses will reveal that they do not effect the interpretation of verse 4:34 whatsoever, and that the verb daraba was indeed correctly understood and translated as "beat" or some synonym of this word by the vast majority of translators.

In fact, all the other verses presented which contain daraba are actually using the term figuratively. For example, "hit the sky" is a figurative expression; nothing can literally "hit" or "crash" with layers of gases, it is meant to be understood as "fly high through" the sky. These apologists will claim that this is a "different meaning" for the word "hit", but this argument is clearly a total violation of the actual meaning of the word.

Comparison with English Usages

A comparison with English is useful: The meaning of many verbs differ according to the objects they are applied to and the prepositions with which they are used. Using the word "hit" in English as an example, which also means daraba, a number of derivative and metaphorical meanings of "hit" may be arrived at, similar to daraba.

Ten Meanings for "Hit"

The ten of these metaphorical/derived meanings are as follows (note that the nouns in the brackets are the objects to be hit):

1. Go through (Road)
2. Click (Mouse)
3. Drink (Bottle)
4. Land (Target)
5. Reach (Market)
6. Press (Brakes)
7. Go (Beach)
8. Fulfill (Spot)
9. Demonstrate (Streets)
10. Win (Jackpot)

Examples:

1. When someone "hits the road," it means he "departed" or "went through the road." It surely doesn't mean he got a hammer and hit the road. Does "hit the woman" mean "go through the woman"?
2. When someone says they will "hit the Mouse," they mean to say they will "click on the mouse." Does "hit the woman" mean "click on the woman"?
3. When someone says they'll "hit the bottle," what they really mean is, they'll "drink the bottle" or "drink alcohol heavily." Does "hit the woman" mean "drink the woman"?
4. When a darts player "hits the target," he didn't get the dart board and break it, he simply shot the dart and it "landed on the target." Does "hit the woman" mean "land on the woman"?
5. When an author's book "hits the market," it means the book "reaches the market." Does "hit the woman" mean "reach the woman"?
6. When someone says they'll "hit the brakes," it doesn't mean they'll break the braking pedal, but rather it mean they'll "press on the brakes" to stop the car. Does "hit the woman" mean "press on the woman"?
7. When a family "hits the beach," they didn't fall from the 11th floor and "crash" into the beach, but they "went to the beach." Does "hit the woman" mean "go to the woman"?
8. When someone says its fine but it didn't "hit the spot," they mean to say its fine but didn't fulfill their needs. Does "hit the woman" mean "woman fulfilled my needs"?
9. When someone says the activists "hit the streets," it means the activists "demonstrated in the streets." Does "hit the woman" mean "demonstrate to the woman"?
10. When someone says they "hit the jackpot" it actually means they "won the jackpot." Does "hit the woman" mean "win the woman"?

As can clearly be seen, each of those sentences require a different interpretation of the word "hit", which is applied accordingly to the object used in combination with it. Yet ever with all of these "different meanings" of the word "hit" in mind, the sentence "I will hit my woman" remains clear: the meaning is "I shall strike my woman", or in Arabic "سوف أضرب إمرأتي" There is no possible alternative meaning to "I will beat my woman."' The difference between, for example, "hit the road" and "hit the woman", is the object to be hit, and not the meaning of "hit" itself; the meanings of the two sentences are different but clear.

Commentary

Most of the verses containing the eight different meanings which have been given by the apologists are using the verb daraba (hit) not against human beings, but rather "hitting the land," "hitting an example," "hitting the truth"... etc., clearly figurative uses which are derivative of the main meaning "to hit." In the verses in the Qur'an where daraba is used against a human being without a modifiying preposition, it clearly means to "beat" or "strike," which confirms our understanding of the use of daraba in verse 4:34.

What follows now is a discussion of daraba in the contexts where it is found in the Qur'an with a meaning other than "to hit" or "to strike." The original verse in Arabic will be presented, along with word-by-word literal translation of the statement in Bold in each verse, which is the place where daraba (hit) and its object (i.e. Land) are used; and above each verse will be found the name of the object being hit. For example, in the example of the phrase "hit an example," its will literally translation will be presented as is, not as "give an example" like the standard Qur'anic translations. Although this translation may sound strange, it will make the object to be hit, easily identifiable for the non-Arabic speakers.

This literal translation of all the verses for will show that each time "daraba" is used and has a different meaning than to "beat," it is not against a human being, but against other material and non-material objects. And each and every time it is used against a human without a modifying preposition, it has no other meaning than to "beat".

Meaning 1: To travel, to get out

Verse: 3.156 Object: Land

darabuu ضَرَبُوا۟ is derived from daraba, meaning "hit". Fee في literally means "in". Al-Ardi ٱلْأَرْضِ means "the land" or "the earth." Thus, the whole statement darabuu fee al-ardi ضَرَبُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ means "hit in the land", with a meaning of something like "hit the road", a clearly figurative etension of the main meaning of the verb, "hit."

"Hit" here gives thismeaning only when it is against "land"; it is a well-known expression in Arabic.

Verse: 4.101 Object: Land

darabtum fee al-ardi ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ literally meaning "you (plural) hit in the land" again meaning here "to travel" or to move across the land.

Verse: 38.44 Object: Grass

wachadh biyadika dighthan faidrib bihi وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَٱضْرِب بِّهِ literally meaning "take in your hand a little grass, and strike therewith" with the plain meaning of striking with the grass in hand.

Verse: 73.20 Object: Land

yadribuuna fee al-ardi يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ literally meaning "they hit in the land" again meaning here "to travel" or to move across the land.

Verse: 2.273 Object: Land

darban fee al-ardi ضَرْبًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ literally "a hit in the land" again meaning "moving about in the land."

Meaning number 2: To set up

Verse: 43.58 Object: Example

ma darabuuhu laka ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ literally "what they have struck it for you." The thing that is hit here is, from its previous verse Quran 43:57, is an example.

Verse: 57.13 Object: Wall

faduriba baynahum bisuurin فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ literally "a wall was struck between them" which is understuud as "a wall was placed between them."

Meaning number 3: To give examples

Verse: 14.24 Object: Example

daraba Allahu mathalan ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا literally "Allah struck an example", meaning "he gave an example."

Verse: 14.45 Object: Example

wadarabna lakumu al-amthala ضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ literally "we strike for you the example" meaning "we give an example for you."

Verse: 16.75 Object: Example

Daraba Allahu mathalan ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا literally "Allah has struck an example" meaning "Allah has given an example."

Verse: 16.76 Object: Example

Wadaraba Allahu mathalan وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا literally "And Allah has struck an example" meaning "Allah has given an example."

Verse: 16.112 Object: Example

Wadaraba Allahu mathalan وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا literally "And Allah has struck an example" meaning "And Allah has given an example."

Verse: 18.32 Object: Example

Waidrib lahum mathalan وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا literally "and you, struck for them an example" meaning "and give for them an example."

Verse: 18.45 Object: Example

Waidrib lahum mathala وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ literally "and struck for them an example."

Verse: 24.35 Object: Example

wayadribu Allahu al-amthala وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلَ literally meaning "And Allah hits the examples."

Verse: 30.28 Object: Example

Daraba lakum mathalan ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا literally meaning "struck an example for you."

Verse: 30.58 Object: Example

darabna liInnasi fee hatha alqur-ani min kulli mathalin وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ literally meaning "We have struck in this Quran for every example for the people."

Verse: 39.27 Object: Example

Walaqad darabna liInnasi fee hatha alqur-ani min kulli mathalin وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ literally meaning "And we have struck in this Quran from every example for the people."

Verse: 39.29 Object: Example

Daraba Allahu mathalan literally meaning "Allah hit an example."

Verse: 43.17 Object: Example

bima daraba liIrrahmani mathalan literally meaning "in the examples hit by the Merciful."

Verse: 59.21 Object: Example

watilka al-amthalu nadribuha liInnasi literally meaning "and these are the examples that we hit for the people."

Verse: 66.10 Object: Example

Daraba Allahu mathalan literally meaning "Allah has hit an example."

Verse: 66.11 Object: Example

Wadaraba Allahu mathalan literally meaning "And Allah has hit an example."

Meaning number 4: To take away, to ignore

Verse: 43.5 Object: Admonition

Afanadribu AAankumu aIththikra literally meaning "shall we hit the admonition from you." Again, this is a known expression.

Meaning number 5: To condemn

Verse: 26.1 Object: Humiliation

waduribat 'alayhimu aIththillatu literally meaning "and the humiliation was hit on him." The humiliation is what was hit, not Moses himself.

Meaning number 6: To seal, to draw over

Verse: 18.11 :Over the ears

Fadarabna 'ala adhanihim فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ literally meaning "we have hit over their ears," which is a common expression in Arabic that means "we will make your ears hear nothing." Just like "hit your feet" can mean "start walking." What was hit here was the ears, not the people themselves.

Meaning number 7: To cover

Verse: 24.31 Object: Veils and Feet

This verse mentions the verb darb twice. In the first occurrence, it says walyadribna bikhumurihinna AAala juyuubihinna literally meaning "and they should hit their veils over their bosoms," which also does not reflect that the word darb means "cover" as has been alleged. If it were, then it should be written as such: "and they should hit themselves with their veils over their bosoms."

In the second occurrence, wala yadribna bi-arjulihinna literally means "they should not hit their feet;" and here "hit" is meant literally as "hit" or "strike."

Main Meaning 8: To Show

Verse: 13.17 Object: Truth and Vanity

Another two instances of "daraba" here: yadribu Allahu alhaqqa waalbatila يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَٱلْبَٰطِلَ literally "Allah strikes the truth and the vanity," with the meaning of "Allahs explains the truth and the vanity."

yadribu Allahu al-amthala literally means "Allah strikes an example" id est "Allah gives an example."

Main Meaning 8: To Show

The following verse illustrate the verb's main meaning, to hit or to strike.

Verse: 2.60 Object: Rock

idrib bi'asaka alhajara literally meaning "hit the rock."

Verse: 2.73 Object: Human

idribuuhu biba'diha ٱضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا literally means "beat him with part of her." The one to be beaten is the dead man [a whole human], which is the equivalent of the wife [a whole human] who is to be beaten as instructed in verse 4:34. The only possible meaning here for daraba here is "strike" or "beat." The mysterious translation of "separate from them" that was used instead of "beat" in 4:34 obviously renders this verse nonsensical, as the cow and the man were definitely not connected in any way to be "separated." Thus, it is logical to conclude that darab against a woman will also mean to "strike" or "beat" them, not "separate".

Verse: 7.160 Object: Rock

idrib bi'asaka alhajara ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ literally meaning "hit the rock with your stick."

Verse: 8.12 Object: Human Necks

faidribuu fawqa al-a'naqi waidribuu minhum kulla bananin فَٱضْرِبُوا۟ فَوْقَ ٱلْأَعْنَاقِ وَٱضْرِبُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ literally "strike over the necks and strike from them all their fingers." The first "hit" means "beat" and the second means "cut-off." Both objects here are not whole bodies, but only parts (necks and fingers), again illustrating how this verb means "to strike."

Verse: 20.77 Object: Road

faidrib lahum -tareeqan فَٱضْرِبْ لَهُمْ طَرِيقًا فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ literally meaning "so strike a road for them."

Verse: 26:63 Object: Sea

aniidrib bi'asaka albahra ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْبَحْرَ literally meaning "hit with your stick the sea."

Verse: 37.93 Object: Human

Here, darban bialyameeni ضَرْبًۢا بِٱلْيَمِينِ literally means "a strike with the right [hand]." According to this verse, when verb daraban is applied to humans, it means "beat" or "strike." It cannot be translated as "separation from them them from your right hand," since this is essential meaningless. The meaning of "strike" is apparent here.

Verse: 47.4 Object: Human Necks

fadarba aIrriqabi فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ literally meaning "strike [off] the necks." as in "cut off their necks," with strike here again eliding into a meaning of "cut off" when referring to a strike with a sword.

Verse: 8.50 Object: Human Faces

yadribuuna wujuuhahum يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ literally "hit their faces," clearly again meaning "hit" or "strike."

Verse: 47.27 Object: Human Faces

yadribuuna wujuuhahum يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ literally "hit their faces." Also translated correctly by the Islamic site, Just like the previous verses.

Comparing the Two Terms

Beat them and leave them are different phrases in Arabic, utilizing the same verb, but here differentiated by the preposition used. The Arabic word idribohunna is the command form of the Arabic verv Daraba does not have any other meaning than Beat when it comes to the sentence "Yadribu Ahadan" يضرب أحدا= he hits someone. Idribuuhunna (أضربوهن) means beat them (for female plural). Idribuu 'anhunna (اضربوا عنهن) with the preposition 'an عن would mean "leave" or "abandon" them. According to Lane's Arabic lexicon.^[10]

Qur'an 4:34 says Idribuuhunna^[11] أضربوهن not Adribu 'Anhunna اضربوا عنهن. There is no way to confuse one for the other.

References