Wife Beating in Islamic Law - Revision history

Lightyears: /* Muhammad struck Aisha and the tampering of English hadith translations */

2026-02-16T13:23:43Z

Muhammad struck Aisha and the tampering of English hadith translations

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:23, 16 February 2026
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	In one account found in the hadith collections, including the authoritative [[Sahih Muslim\|''Sahih Muslim'']], [[Muhammad]] causes his wife [[Aisha]] physical pain by striking her in the chest. The Arabic word translated "He struck me" (فَلَهَدَنِي) is ''lahada'' , which means 'he pushed violently' or 'he struck her chest'<ref>lahada [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000204.pdf Lane's Lexicon] page 2676</ref>, and the word translated caused me pain (أَوْجَعَتْنِي) is awja'a meaning 'He, or it, pained him; or caused him pain, or aching'<ref>awja'a - [https://lexicon.quranic-research.net/data/27_w/045_wjE.html Lane's Lexicon]</ref>. It is important to note that the popular hadith website Sunnah.com, drastically altered this phrase from the original translations they used for the Sahih Muslim and Sunan al-Nasa'i collections, presumably to present Muhammad and Islam in a more positive light, changing it in both cases to "He gave me a nudge on the chest which I felt" - for this reason, the words provided here have been restored to the original translation of Siddique. These are what the translations say:		In one account found in the hadith collections, including the authoritative [[Sahih Muslim\|''Sahih Muslim'']], [[Muhammad]] causes his wife [[Aisha]] physical pain by striking her in the chest. The Arabic word translated "He struck me" (فَلَهَدَنِي) is ''lahada'' , which means 'he pushed violently' or 'he struck her chest'<ref>lahada [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000204.pdf Lane's Lexicon] page 2676</ref>, and the word translated caused me pain (أَوْجَعَتْنِي) is awja'a meaning 'He, or it, pained him; or caused him pain, or aching'<ref>awja'a - [https://lexicon.quranic-research.net/data/27_w/045_wjE.html Lane's Lexicon]</ref>. It is important to note that the popular hadith website Sunnah.com, drastically altered this phrase from the original translations they used for the Sahih Muslim and Sunan al-Nasa'i collections, presumably to present Muhammad and Islam in a more positive light, changing it in both cases to "He gave me a nudge on the chest which I felt" - for this reason, the words provided here have been restored to the original translation of Siddique. These are what the translations say:

	'''Sahih Muslim Book 4, 2127''' (Abdul Hamid Siddiqui; Sunnah.com's source translation):		'''Sahih Muslim Book 4, 2127''' (Abdul Hamid Siddiqui; Sunnah.com's source translation):<BR/>
	He said, Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said, Yes. He struck me in the chest which caused me pain, and then said, Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?		''He said, Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said, Yes. He struck me in the chest which caused me pain, and then said, Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?''

	'''Sahih Muslim 974b''' (Dar-us-Salam edition of the same hadith translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab, Vol. 2 p.506):		'''Sahih Muslim 974b''' (Dar-us-Salam edition of the same hadith translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab, Vol. 2 p.506):<BR/>
	He said: "so you were the person that I saw in front of me?" I said: "Yes." He gave me a painful shove on the chest, then he said: "Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would be unjust to you?"		''He said: "so you were the person that I saw in front of me?" I said: "Yes." He gave me a painful shove on the chest, then he said: "Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would be unjust to you?"''

	'''Sunan al-Nasa'i 2039''' (Dar-us-Salam edition, Vol. 3, p.127, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab; Sunnah.com's source translation ~~which~~ they altered in the same way as they did for Sahih Muslim):		'''Sunan al-Nasa'i 2039''' (Dar-us-Salam edition, Vol. 3, p.127, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab; Sunnah.com's source translation. Numbered there as 2037, they altered it in the same way as they did for Sahih Muslim):<BR/>
	He said: 'So you were the black shape that I saw in front of me?' I said, 'Yes.' He struck me on the chest, which caused we pain, then he said: 'Did you think Allah and His Messenger would deal unjustly with you?'		''He said: 'So you were the black shape that I saw in front of me?' I said, 'Yes.' He struck me on the chest, which caused we pain, then he said: 'Did you think Allah and His Messenger would deal unjustly with you?' ''

Lightyears at 01:11, 15 November 2025

2025-11-15T01:11:37Z

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	He said, Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said, Yes. He struck me in the chest which caused me pain, and then said, Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?		He said, Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said, Yes. He struck me in the chest which caused me pain, and then said, Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?

	'''Sahih Muslim 974b''' (Dar-us-Salam edition translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab, Vol. 2 p.506):		'''Sahih Muslim 974b''' (Dar-us-Salam edition of the same hadith translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab, Vol. 2 p.506):
	He said: "so you were the person that I saw in front of me?" I said: "Yes." He gave me a painful shove on the chest, then he said: "Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would be unjust to you?"		He said: "so you were the person that I saw in front of me?" I said: "Yes." He gave me a painful shove on the chest, then he said: "Did you think that Allah and His Messenger would be unjust to you?"

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	In another hadith, Muhammad instructs that a husband should not strike his wife on her face.		In another hadith, Muhammad instructs that a husband should not strike his wife on her face.

	{{Quote\|1=~~[http://sunnah.com/abudawud/12/97 AbuDawud 11:2137]~~\|2=Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: Mu'awiyah asked: Messenger of Allah, what is the right of the wife of one of us over him? He replied: That you should give her food when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, do not strike her on the face, do not revile her or separate yourself from her except in the house.		{{Quote\|1={{Abu Dawud\|\|2142\|darussalam}}\|2=Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: Mu'awiyah asked: Messenger of Allah, what is the right of the wife of one of us over him? He replied: That you should give her food when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, do not strike her on the face, do not revile her or separate yourself from her except in the house.

	Abu Dawud said: The meaning of "do not revile her" is, as you say: "May Allah revile you".}}		Abu Dawud said: The meaning of "do not revile her" is, as you say: "May Allah revile you".}}
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	Another version of the same hadith is worded more generally, saying, "do not beat them". If this version is a more accurate reflection of what Muhammad said, it is likely that it occurred in the earlier period in which Muhammad forbade beating (see {{Abu Dawud\|\|2146\|darussalam}}, quoted above), as later sources concur on Muhammad's instruction and the Quran in their permission of wife-beating.		Another version of the same hadith is worded more generally, saying, "do not beat them". If this version is a more accurate reflection of what Muhammad said, it is likely that it occurred in the earlier period in which Muhammad forbade beating (see {{Abu Dawud\|\|2146\|darussalam}}, quoted above), as later sources concur on Muhammad's instruction and the Quran in their permission of wife-beating.

	{{Quote\|1=~~[http://sunnah.com/abudawud/12/99 AbuDawud 11:2139]~~\|2=Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri:		{{Quote\|1={{Abu Dawud\|\|2144\|darussalam}}\|2=Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri:
	I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? He replied: Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them}}		I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? He replied: Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them}}

Lightyears: Automated script replacing USC-MSA hadith numbering system for Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Dawud

2025-11-15T01:07:27Z

Automated script replacing USC-MSA hadith numbering system for Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Dawud

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Lightyears at 21:45, 2 October 2025

2025-10-02T21:45:07Z

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	====(38:44) Job beats his wife====		====(38:44) Job beats his wife====
	{{Quran\|38\|44}} states that the prophet Job (''Ayyub'') was commanded by Allah to beat his wife using a bundle of grass, twigs, or rushes (''dighthan''<ref>dad-ghayn-tha [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume5/00000078.pdf Lane's Lexicon] Book I page 1793</ref>).		{{Quran\|38\|44}}, as interpreted by some classical commentators, states that the prophet Job (''Ayyub'') was commanded by Allah to beat his wife using a bundle of grass, twigs, or rushes (''dighthan''<ref>dad-ghayn-tha [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume5/00000078.pdf Lane's Lexicon] Book I page 1793</ref>). However, this interpretation may be unwarranted as the verse itself does not mention Job's wife. Some academic scholars have argued that the verse rather narrates a command for Job to heal himself from his ailments (mentioned a few verses earlier) using a bundle of herbs.<ref>This intepretation of the verse is proposed in The Study Quran and in various articles by Saqib Hussain.</ref>

	{{Quote\|{{Quran\|38\|44}}\|[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] '''and strike with it''' and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].}}		{{Quote\|{{Quran\|38\|44}}\|[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] '''and strike with it''' and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].}}

	Classical tafsirs such as Ibn Kathir's give ~~the~~ story behind the verse. ~~The lesson to be learned is~~ that it is better to beat your wife in a relatively unpainful, albeit humiliating way than for a man to break an earlier oath to beat his wife (as had the prophet Job in this story).		Classical tafsirs such as Ibn Kathir's give a story behind the verse. Their interpretation would imply that it is better to beat your wife in a relatively unpainful, albeit humiliating way than for a man to break an earlier oath to beat his wife (as had the prophet Job in this story).

	{{Quote\|1=[http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1952&Itemid=94 Ayyub]<BR>Tafsir Ibn Kathir\|2=Ayyub, peace be upon him, got angry with his wife and was upset about something she had done, so he swore an oath that if Allah healed him, he would '''strike her with one hundred blows.''' When Allah healed him, how could her service, mercy, compassion and kindness be repaid with a beating So Allah showed him a way out, which was to take a bundle of thin grass, with one hundred stems, '''and hit her with it once'''. Thus he fulfilled his oath and avoided breaking his vow.}}		{{Quote\|1=[http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1952&Itemid=94 Ayyub]<BR>Tafsir Ibn Kathir\|2=Ayyub, peace be upon him, got angry with his wife and was upset about something she had done, so he swore an oath that if Allah healed him, he would '''strike her with one hundred blows.''' When Allah healed him, how could her service, mercy, compassion and kindness be repaid with a beating So Allah showed him a way out, which was to take a bundle of thin grass, with one hundred stems, '''and hit her with it once'''. Thus he fulfilled his oath and avoided breaking his vow.}}

Lightyears at 22:31, 22 May 2025

2025-05-22T22:31:11Z

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	Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities, while reformist scholars reduce the Quranic command to a symbolic gesture (a tap with a small stick) or attempt other interpretations.		Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly nor on the face, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities, while reformist scholars reduce the Quranic command to a symbolic gesture (a tap with a small stick) or attempt other interpretations.

	==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==		==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==
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	Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) came and sought permission to see Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him). He found people sitting at his door and none amongst them had been granted permission, but it was granted to Abu Bakr and he went in. Then came 'Umar and he sought permission and it was granted to him, and he found Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) sitting sad and silent with his wives around him. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: I would say something which would make the Prophet (peace be upon him) laugh, so he said: Messenger of Allah, I wish you had seen (the treatment meted out to) the daughter of Khadija when you asked me some money, and '''I got up and slapped her on her neck. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) laughed''' and said: They are around me as you see, asking for extra money. Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) then got up '''went to 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and slapped her on the neck''', and 'Umar '''stood up before Hafsa and slapped''' her saying: You ask Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) which he does not possess. They said: By Allah, we do not ask Allah's Messenger peace be upon him) for anything he does not possess. Then he withdrew from them for a month or for twenty-nine days. Then this verse was revealed to him:" Prophet: Say to thy wives... for a mighty reward" (xxxiii. 28). He then went first to 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and said: I want to propound something to you, 'A'isha, but wish no hasty reply before you consult your parents. She said: Messenger of Allah, what is that? He (the Holy Prophet) recited to her the verse, whereupon she said: Is it about you that I should consult my parents, Messenger of Allah? Nay, I choose Allah, His Messenger, and the Last Abode; but I ask you not to tell any of your wives what I have said He replied: Not one of them will ask me without my informing her. God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He has sent me to teach and make things easy.}}		Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) came and sought permission to see Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him). He found people sitting at his door and none amongst them had been granted permission, but it was granted to Abu Bakr and he went in. Then came 'Umar and he sought permission and it was granted to him, and he found Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) sitting sad and silent with his wives around him. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: I would say something which would make the Prophet (peace be upon him) laugh, so he said: Messenger of Allah, I wish you had seen (the treatment meted out to) the daughter of Khadija when you asked me some money, and '''I got up and slapped her on her neck. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) laughed''' and said: They are around me as you see, asking for extra money. Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) then got up '''went to 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and slapped her on the neck''', and 'Umar '''stood up before Hafsa and slapped''' her saying: You ask Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) which he does not possess. They said: By Allah, we do not ask Allah's Messenger peace be upon him) for anything he does not possess. Then he withdrew from them for a month or for twenty-nine days. Then this verse was revealed to him:" Prophet: Say to thy wives... for a mighty reward" (xxxiii. 28). He then went first to 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and said: I want to propound something to you, 'A'isha, but wish no hasty reply before you consult your parents. She said: Messenger of Allah, what is that? He (the Holy Prophet) recited to her the verse, whereupon she said: Is it about you that I should consult my parents, Messenger of Allah? Nay, I choose Allah, His Messenger, and the Last Abode; but I ask you not to tell any of your wives what I have said He replied: Not one of them will ask me without my informing her. God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He has sent me to teach and make things easy.}}

	In ~~yet another hadith~~, Ali (the fourth Rightly-Guided Caliph of Islam as well as Muhammad's cousin, foster-son, and son-in-law) gives a [[Slavery\|slave-girl]] a violent beating in front of Muhammad.		In the sira literature, Ali (the fourth Rightly-Guided Caliph of Islam as well as Muhammad's cousin, foster-son, and son-in-law) gives a [[Slavery\|slave-girl]] a violent beating in front of Muhammad.

	{{Quote\|Ibn Ishaq: p 496\|As for Ali he said “Women are plentiful, and you can easily change one for another. Ask the slave girl; she will tell you the truth.” So the Apostle called Burayra to ask her and Ali got up and gave her a violent beating, saying, ‘Tell the Apostle the truth.’”}}		{{Quote\|Ibn Ishaq: p 496\|As for Ali he said “Women are plentiful, and you can easily change one for another. Ask the slave girl; she will tell you the truth.” So the Apostle called Burayra to ask her and Ali got up and gave her a violent beating, saying, ‘Tell the Apostle the truth.’”}}
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	{{Quote\|{{Muwatta\|30\|\|13}}\|Yahya related to me from Malik that Abdullah ibn Dinar said, "A man came to Abdullah ibn Umar when I was with 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.'''' "}}		{{Quote\|{{Muwatta\|30\|\|13}}\|Yahya related to me from Malik that Abdullah ibn Dinar said, "A man came to Abdullah ibn Umar when I was with 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.'''' "}}

	A hadith graded ''hasan'' (the 2nd highest level of authenticity according to traditional scholars of hadith, below ''sahih'') has 'Umar hitting his wife and then ~~excusing himself~~ by quoting Muhammad ~~saying that a man should not be asked why he beats his wife~~. See the section below on Islamic law for how this hadith was used by Islamic jurists.		A hadith graded ''hasan'' (the 2nd highest level of authenticity according to traditional scholars of hadith, below ''sahih'') by Dar-us-Salam, though da'if (weak) by al-Albani,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250306231801/https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1986 Grading information on sunnah.com (archive)] before it was removed</ref>
			has 'Umar hitting his wife and then claiming unaccountability for such actions by quoting Muhammad. See the section below on Islamic law for how this hadith was used by Islamic jurists.

	{{Quote\|1={{Ibn Majah\|\|3\|9\|1986}}\|2=It was narrated that Ash'ath bin Qais said:		{{Quote\|1={{Ibn Majah\|\|3\|9\|1986}}\|2=It was narrated that Ash'ath bin Qais said:

Asmith at 02:21, 17 May 2025

2025-05-17T02:21:47Z

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	Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities, while reformist scholars reduce the Quranic command to a symbolic gesture (a tap with a small stick) or attempt other interpretations.		Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities, while reformist scholars reduce the Quranic command to a symbolic gesture (a tap with a small stick) or attempt other interpretations.

Lightyears at 00:40, 21 November 2023

2023-11-21T00:40:13Z

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	Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities, while reformist scholars reduce the Quranic command to a symbolic ~~guesture~~ (a tap with a small stick) or attempt other interpretations.		Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities, while reformist scholars reduce the Quranic command to a symbolic gesture (a tap with a small stick) or attempt other interpretations.

	==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==		==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==

Lightyears at 01:16, 20 November 2023

2023-11-20T01:16:06Z

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	Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities.		Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities, while reformist scholars reduce the Quranic command to a symbolic guesture (a tap with a small stick) or attempt other interpretations.

	==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==		==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==

Lightyears at 20:26, 24 July 2023

2023-07-24T20:26:44Z

Lightyears at 00:05, 18 July 2023

2023-07-18T00:05:14Z

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	Wife-beating is instructed by ~~the~~ the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his farewell sermon, and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities.		Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his farewell sermon, and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities.

	==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==		==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:26, 24 July 2023
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	{{QualityScore\|Lead=4\|Structure=4\|Content=4\|Language=4\|References=4}}		{{QualityScore\|Lead=4\|Structure=4\|Content=4\|Language=4\|References=4}}
	Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his farewell sermon, and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities.		Wife-beating is instructed by the Qur'an and the Hadiths, and has been an accepted part of Islam law since its inception. {{Quran\|4\|34}} states that men are maintainers of women and tells husbands that in certain circumstances they should, among other things, "beat them". Although hadiths narrate that Muhammad did not himself beat women and told men not to beat their wives too harshly, at the same time he provided tacit approval of wife beating, mildly referring to husbands who beat their wives as "not the best among you", reportedly forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, allowed his closest companions to slap his wives (known as "the Mothers of believers"), reaffirmed the command of wife-beating in his [[Farewell Sermon\|farewell sermon]], and himself struck one of his wives in the chest. In addition to Muhammad's actions, three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs are also reported to have beaten women (a recurring pattern especially in the case of 'Umar). Because of its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, wife-beating was permitted by Islamic jurisprudence and understood as a means of enforcing obedience to husbands, albeit with limitations which are unlikely to be adhered to in a domestic setting. This has led to domestic violence being permitted under law in a number of Muslim majority countries or being largely ignored by the authorities.

	==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==		==Islamic scriptures and wife-beating==
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	{{Quote\|{{Bukhari\|7\|72\|715}}\|Narrated Ikrima: 'Rifaa divorced his wife whereupon Abdur-Rahman married her. Aisha said that the lady came wearing a green veil and complained to her (Aisha) 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 messenger 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 Abdur-Rahman 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 messenger! She has told a lie. I am very strong and can satisfy her, but she is disobedient and wants to go back to Rifaa." Allah's messenger said to her, "If that is your intention, then know that it is unlawful for you to remarry Rifaa unless Abdur-Rahman has had sexual intercourse with you." The prophet saw two boys with Abdur-Rahman and asked (him), "Are these your sons?" On that Abdur-Rahman said, "Yes." The prophet said, "You claim what you claim (that he is impotent)? But by Allah, these boys resemble him as a crow resembles a crow."}}		{{Quote\|{{Bukhari\|7\|72\|715}}\|Narrated Ikrima: 'Rifaa divorced his wife whereupon Abdur-Rahman married her. Aisha said that the lady came wearing a green veil and complained to her (Aisha) 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 messenger 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 Abdur-Rahman 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 messenger! She has told a lie. I am very strong and can satisfy her, but she is disobedient and wants to go back to Rifaa." Allah's messenger said to her, "If that is your intention, then know that it is unlawful for you to remarry Rifaa unless Abdur-Rahman has had sexual intercourse with you." The prophet saw two boys with Abdur-Rahman and asked (him), "Are these your sons?" On that Abdur-Rahman said, "Yes." The prophet said, "You claim what you claim (that he is impotent)? But by Allah, these boys resemble him as a crow resembles a crow."}}

	In ~~the sahih version of~~ his [[Farewell Sermon\|''Farewell Sermon'']], Muhammad compares women to domestic [[animals]] and once more tells men to beat their wives, but unlike the Quran, adds the caveat 'but not severely'.		In his [[Farewell Sermon\|''Farewell Sermon'']], Muhammad compares women to domestic animals (or according to other translations of the same word and in traditional exegesis, prisoners) and once more tells men to beat their wives, but unlike the Quran, adds the caveat 'but not severely'.

	{{Quote\|{{Tabari\|9\|pp. 112-113}}\|"Now then, O people, you have a right over your wives and they have a right over you. You have [the right] that they should not cause anyone of whom you dislike to tread on your beds; and that they should not commit any open indecency. If they do, then Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms and '''to beat them, but not severely'''. If they abstain from [evil], they have the right to their food and clothing in accordance with the custom. Treat women well, for they are [like] domestic animals with you and do not possess anything for themselves. You have taken them only as a trust from Allah, and you have made the enjoyment of their persons lawful by the word of Allah, so understand and listen to my words, O people.}}		{{Quote\|{{Tabari\|9\|pp. 112-113}}\|"Now then, O people, you have a right over your wives and they have a right over you. You have [the right] that they should not cause anyone of whom you dislike to tread on your beds; and that they should not commit any open indecency. If they do, then Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms and '''to beat them, but not severely'''. If they abstain from [evil], they have the right to their food and clothing in accordance with the custom. Treat women well, for they are [like] domestic animals with you and do not possess anything for themselves. You have taken them only as a trust from Allah, and you have made the enjoyment of their persons lawful by the word of Allah, so understand and listen to my words, O people.}}

	In other versions of the farewell sermon the same comments about beating are reported, such as in the following version from a hadith in ''Sunan Abu Dawud'' (graded Sahih by the famous modern scholar of hadith al-Albani). Here, as in the Qur'an, Muslim men are instructed to beat their wives, although ~~some~~ hadiths nuance this by adding 'not severely':		In other versions of the farewell sermon the same comments about beating are reported, such as in the following version from a hadith in ''Sunan Abu Dawud'' (graded Sahih by the famous modern scholar of hadith, al-Albani). Here, as in the Qur'an, Muslim men are instructed to beat their wives, although all hadiths of the farewell sermon nuance this by adding 'not severely':

	{{Quote\|~~1=[https://sunnah.com/abudawud/11/185 Sunan~~ Abu Dawud ~~10:~~1900]~~\|2=~~Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do ~~'''~~beat them, but not severely.~~''' You are responsible for providing them with food and clothing in a fitting manner~~.}}		{{Quote\|{{Abu Dawud\|\|1900\|Hasan}}\|[...] Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do beat them, but not severely. [...]}}

	The caveat, "but not severely", appears also in the other narrations of the farewell sermon in other hadith collections, although English translations in some cases have [[Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English)\|mistranslated]] the same Arabic phrase as discussed below.		The caveat, "but not severely", appears also in the other narrations of the farewell sermon in other hadith collections, although English translations in some cases have [[Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English)\|mistranslated]] the same Arabic phrase as discussed in the next section below.

	Altogether, the hadith report that (1) 'A'isha did not consider Muhammad himself to have ever hit a woman, although on one occasion he painfully pushed / struck her in the chest, (2) Muhammad at first forbade the beating of Muslim women, but was persuaded to allow it when Umar warned that the men were losing control of their wives, (3) Muhammad allowed some of his prominent companions to hit women and slap his own wives (the very women whom all Muslims adore and refer to as "the Mother of believers", (4) Muhammad merely makes a mild remark about other men when their wives complain about beatings (describing those that do so to the point of complaint as 'not the best among you'), (5) Muhammad forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, (6) three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs beat women, and (7) Muhammad reaffirms the Qur'anic command of wife-beating in his parting sermon, albeit "without severity". It is clear that wife-beating has been an accepted part of Islam since its inception. While Muhammad had some reservations about the beating of women, he repeatedly indulged men who physically disciplined women, including in his presence, and was ultimately persuaded to prescribe it as a divinely-instructed punishment for certain types of misconduct on the part of women.		Altogether, the hadith report that (1) 'A'isha did not consider Muhammad himself to have ever hit a woman, although on one occasion he painfully pushed / struck her in the chest, (2) Muhammad at first forbade the beating of Muslim women, but was persuaded to allow it when Umar warned that the men were losing control of their wives, (3) Muhammad allowed some of his prominent companions to hit women and slap his own wives (the very women whom all Muslims adore and refer to as "the Mother of believers", (4) Muhammad merely makes a mild remark about other men when their wives complain about beatings (describing those that do so to the point of complaint as 'not the best among you'), (5) Muhammad forbade Muslims from questioning men who beat their wives, (6) three of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs beat women, and (7) Muhammad reaffirms the Qur'anic command of wife-beating in his parting sermon, albeit "without severity". It is clear that wife-beating has been an accepted part of Islam since its inception. While Muhammad had some reservations about the beating of women, he repeatedly indulged men who physically disciplined women, including in his presence, and was ultimately persuaded to prescribe it as a divinely-instructed punishment for certain types of misconduct on the part of women.
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	I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? He replied: Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them}}		I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? He replied: Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them}}

	A lengthy hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud includes an instruction to beat one's wives, but not severely, if they allow anyone whom the husband dislikes to lie on their beds (these being were usually rolled out on the floor in Bedouin tents). In Arabic, 'beat them, but not severely' is ''fa-idribuhunna darban ghayra mubarrihin'', which literally translates to mean 'beat them, a beating without violence/severity/sharpness/vehemence<ref>[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000219.pdf Lane's Lexicon] Book I page 182</ref>'. The instruction here is nearly akin to that found in Muhammad's farewell sermon (quoted above) and includes the following:		A lengthy hadith containing an account of Muhammad's farewell sermon in Sunan Abu Dawud includes an instruction to beat one's wives, but not severely, if they allow anyone whom the husband dislikes to lie on their beds (these being were usually rolled out on the floor in Bedouin tents). In Arabic, 'beat them, but not severely' is ''fa-idribuhunna darban ghayra mubarrihin'', which literally translates to mean 'beat them, a beating without violence/severity/sharpness/vehemence<ref>[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000219.pdf Lane's Lexicon] Book I page 182</ref>'. The instruction here is nearly akin to that found in Muhammad's farewell sermon (quoted above) and includes the following:

	{{Quote\|1=[~~http://sunnah~~.~~com/abudawud/11/185 AbuDawud 10:1900~~]~~\|2=~~Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do beat them, but not severely.}}		{{Quote\|{{Abu Dawud\|\|1900\|Hasan}}\|[...] Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do beat them, but not severely. [...]}}

	A shorter version of the Farewell Sermon can also be found in ''Sunan Ibn Majah''. The Arabic words rendered by the English translator as 'and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark' are the same as those found in the ''Abu Dawud'' hadith as well as al-Tabari's version of the farewell sermon (quoted above), with the literal translation being, again, 'beat them, a beating without severity'.		The version of the farewell sermon in Sunan Abu Dawud was collected also in Sahih Muslim and uses the same Arabic phrase.
			{{Quote\|{{Muslim\|7\|2803}}\|[...] Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have right over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. [...]}}

			A shorter version of the Farewell Sermon can also be found in ''Sunan Ibn Majah''. The Arabic words rendered by the English translator as 'and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark' are the same as those found in the Sunan Abu Dawud and Sahih Muslim hadith as well as al-Tabari's version of the farewell sermon (quoted in the previous section above), with the literal translation being, again, 'beat them, a beating without severity'.

	{{Quote\|{{Ibn Majah\|\|3\|9\|1851}}\|Then he said: 'I enjoin good treatment of women, for they are prisoners with you, and you have no right to treat them otherwise, unless they commit clear indecency. If they do that, then forsake them in their beds and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark.}}		{{Quote\|{{Ibn Majah\|\|3\|9\|1851}}\|Then he said: 'I enjoin good treatment of women, for they are prisoners with you, and you have no right to treat them otherwise, unless they commit clear indecency. If they do that, then forsake them in their beds and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark.}}