Beating Women Sanctioned By Allah and His Prophet

The religion of Peace does not treat its females "peacefully". Remember that women who was gang-raped in Saudi Arabia and sentenced to 200 lashes because she was alone in a car with men? Women's rights are described in a section in the Koran, sura 4:34, that has been interpreted to say that men have "pre-eminence" over women or that they are "overseers" of women. The verse goes on to say that the husband of an insubordinate wife should first admonish her, then leave her to sleep alone and finally beat her.

Wife beating is so prevalent in the Muslim world that social workers who assist battered women in Egypt, for example, spend much of their time trying to convince victims that their husbands' violent acts are unacceptable.Beatings are not the worst of female suffering. Each year hundreds of Muslim women die in "honor killings"-- murders by husbands or male relatives of women suspected of disobedience, usually a supposed sexual indiscretion or marriage against the family's wishes.

And it all stems from that one verse that explains that Allah and Muhammad say its OK to beat women:

Beating Women Sanctioned By Allah and His Beloved Prophet
by Ibn Kammuna

The Prophet (PBUH) said: A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife.
Introduction

This article discusses the issue of wife-beating as sanctioned in Quran 4:34. I will discuss some of Dr. Jamal Badawi’s writings on the issue. I will also be introducing some Hadiths to prove my claims.

Dr. Jamal Badawi writes about the husband’s problems when they are at a great tension in relation to his wife.

Instead of divorce, the husband may resort to another measure that may save the marriage, at least in some cases. Such a measure is more accurately described as a gentle tap on the body, but NEVER ON THE FACE, making it more of a symbolic measure than a punitive one. Following is the related Qur’anic text:

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 you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next) do not share their beds, (and last) beat (tap) them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all). (Q 4:34)

Now, I do not know Dr. Badawi in person, but I have been told he has a gentle personality and kind manners. That is commendable indeed. I have no quarrel with that. I do have a problem with a person who knows better, and lies, just because he is writing to western audience. Believe it or not, the beating of a wife in Islam is not a gentle tap as Mr. Badawi portrays. It is a good beating. The Qur’an does not say its a gentle tap. Hadiths support my claims here too. Here is the above Qur’anic verse that Mr. Badawi just quoted in Arabic and in the three reliable English translations:


ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٲمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُواْ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ‌ۚ فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌ۬ لِّلۡغَيۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ وَٱلَّـٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهۡجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضۡرِبُوهُنَّ‌ۖ فَإِنۡ أَطَعۡنَڪُمۡ فَلَا تَبۡغُواْ عَلَيۡہِنَّ سَبِيلاً‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّ۬ا ڪَبِيرً۬ا (٣٤)

YUSUFALI: 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).

PICKTHAL: Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.

SHAKIR: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

I would like to draw the reader’s attention that the exact wording translation from Arabic is “beat them”. There is no (At last). There is no (lightly). Adding such words is just a lie to make good of an evil Qur’anic verse. This is why I mentioned earlier that Mr. Badawi is lying. In fact, the reader can go on “Utube” and find Imams videos telling people when and how to beat their wives (and it is not lightly by any means). “Lightly” is a word Muslim apologetics try to add to defend the Qur’an and Islam. Now, I do not care who you are, and I do not care if you think you can beat your wife lightly (i.e. lovingly beat her with a tooth brush!!), if you believe in such nonsense, I hope reincarnation is true. I hope you will be reborn as a Muslim’s wife who believes in a “good beating”. Hopefully you can see how it feels when you are on the receiving end of it. I believe that will definitely serve you right.

Going back to Dr. Badawi’s claims above. Aside from his lie about “lightly tapping” your wife, I do have many issues with the above quote. First, does Dr. Badawi believe that men are “protectors” and “maintainers” of women as the above evil Qur’anic verse states? Does the physical strength of men justify Allah’s making them maintainers and protectors of women? Does the physical strength of men justifies them being the economic power that women will have to rely on? Why does a woman have to be “devoutly obedient” to the husband? Why shouldn’t the wife be an equal partner in the marriage? The above verse that Dr. Badawi quoted is just replete, and saturated inside and out, with Evil.

The Truth about wife-beating from the hadiths is this:
Man is the absolute master in the house. Beating your wife is definitely allowed in Islam. It should not be as severe as beating your slave. That’s all. You can beat your wife (lovingly !!) pretty good. Make it count!! Just do not break her bones! If you do, she may be able to leave and get a divorce. So, bruising, blue marks, red marks, ..etc are all okay. Just don’t go too violently in beating her so as to break her bones. In fact, it is preferred to use a stick or a whip to beat your wife with (easier than using your hand, that's for sure!!). This is what I deduced from an honest reading of the Qur’an and the Hadith about wife beating.
What can I say? The Islamic teachings on women are EVIL. It is hard not see Evil in, no matter what Qur’anic subject you research.

Related Hadiths
Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 68:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Zam’a: The Prophet forbade laughing at a person who passes wind, and said, “How does anyone of you beat his wife as he beats the stallion camel and then he may embrace (sleep with) her?” And Hisham said, “As he beats his slave”

Muslim, Book 005, Number 2238:
Hammam b. Munabbih said: These are some of the a hadith of Muhammad. the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), transmitted to us on the authority of Abu Huraira. So he narrated one hadith out of them (as this): The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: No woman should observe fast when her spouse is present (in the house) but with his permission. And she should not admit any (mahram) in his house, while he (her husband) is present, but with his permission. And whatever she spends from his earnings without his sanction, for him is half the reward.

Muslim, Book 030, Number 5756:
‘A’isha reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) never beat anyone with his hand, neither a woman nor a servant, but only, in the case when he had been fighting in the cause of Allah and he never took revenge for anything unless the things made inviolable by Allah were made violable; he then took revenge for Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.

Dawud, Book 1, Number 0142:
Narrated Laqit ibn Sabirah: I (the narrator Laqit) then said: Messenger of Allah, I have a wife who has something (wrong) in her tongue, i.e. she is insolent. He said: Then divorce her. I said: Messenger of Allah, she had company with me and I have children from her. He said: Then ask her (to obey you). If there is something good in her, she will do so (obey); and do not beat your wife as you beat your slave-girl. I said: Messenger of Allah, tell me about ablution. He said: Perform ablution in full and make the fingers go through the beard and snuff with water well except when you are fasting.

Dawud, Book 12, Number 2220:
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: Habibah daughter of Sahl was the wife of Thabit ibn Qays Shimmas He beat her and broke some of her part. So she came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) after morning, and complained to him against her husband. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) called on Thabit ibn Qays and said (to him): Take a part of her property and separate yourself from her. He asked: Is that right, Apostle of Allah? He said: Yes. He said: I have given her two gardens of mine as a dower, and they are already in her possession. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Take them and separate yourself from her.

Malik, Book 30, Number 30.2.13:
Yahya related to me from Malik that Abdullah ibn Dinar said, “A man came to Abdullah ibn Umar when I waswith him at the place where judgments were given and asked him about the suckling of an older person. Abdullah ibn Umar replied, ‘A man came to Umar ibn al-Khattab and said, ‘I have a slave-girl and I used to have intercourse with her. My wife went to her and suckled her. When I went to the girl, my wife told me to watch out, because she had suckled her!’ Umar told him to beat his wife and to go to his slave-girl because kinship by suckling was only by the suckling of the young.’

Dawud: Book 11, Number 2126:
Narrated Basrah: A man from the Ansar called Basrah said: I married a virgin woman in her veil. When I entered upon her, I found her pregnant. (I mentioned this to the Prophet). The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: She will get the dower, for you made her vagina lawful for you. The child will be your slave. When she has begotten (a child), flog her (according to the version of al-Hasan). The version of Ibn AbusSari has: You people, flog her, or said: inflict hard punishment on him.