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Wife Beating in the Qur'an: Difference between revisions
→Evidence from the Hadith
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==Evidence from the Hadith== | ==Evidence from the Hadith== | ||
Mutliple hadith sources take up the issue of wife beating. They mostly serve to endorse and qualify the practice. As with [[Slavery]] the idea is found that not hitting your wife is a meritorious act but not necessary to be a good believer/Muslim. | |||
First off, the hadith confirms that Muhammad did allow men to beat their wives. | |||
{{Quote|Mishkat Al-Masabih: Volume 2, page 692|Iyas b. Abdullah reported God's messenger as saying, "Do not beat God's handmaidens;" but when `Umar came to God's messenger and said, "The women have become emboldened towards their husbands," '''he gave licence to beat them.''' Then many women went round God's messenger's family complaining of their husbands, and he said, "Many women have gone around complaining of their husbands. Those are not the best among you." Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and Darimi transmitted it.}} | |||
{{Quote| {{Abudawud|11|2141}}|Narrated Abdullah ibn AbuDhubab: Iyas ibn Abdullah ibn AbuDhubab reported the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) as saying: Do not beat Allah's handmaidens, but when Umar came to the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: Women have become emboldened towards their husbands, '''he (the Prophet) gave permission to beat them.''' Then many women came round the family of the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) complaining against their husbands. So the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Many women have gone round Muhammad's family complaining against their husbands. They are not the best among you.}} | |||
{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah|9|3|9|1985}}|It was narrated that Iyas bin 'Abdullah bin Abu Dhubab said: | |||
"The Prophet said: 'Do not beat the female slaves of Allah.' Then 'Umar came to the Prophet and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the woman have become bold towards their husbands? '''So order the beating of them,' and they were beaten.''' Then many women went around to the family of Muhammad,. The next day he said: ''''Last night seventy women came to the family of Muhammad, each woman complaining about her husband. You will not find that those are the best of you'''.' " (Sahih)}} | |||
The beatings were so frequent a part of community life that [['Aishah]] is said to have complained that the believing women suffer more than any other: | |||
{{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,"}} | |||
Here Muhammad seems to condone and take part of the practice. | |||
The hadith clarify how the beatings should be conducted: | |||
{{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 Allah’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.}} | |||
Another hadith lays out the specifics of how far the beating can go: | |||
{{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.}} | |||
==Modern Views and Perspectives on the Meaning of Qur'an 4:34== | ==Modern Views and Perspectives on the Meaning of Qur'an 4:34== | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||