Wife beating verse [4:34] - quick and simple reply

**- Qatada -** · 10-09-2008

I don't want this thread for any debate. It's for reference to Muslims.

The word "idribuhuna" does not mean to beat up the wife.
It means to hit her lightly (avoiding the face because hitting the face is forbidden in Islam) a hitting that is ghayr mubarrih, which does not cause harm to the body, like bruising or breaking a bone.

Ata' said: "I asked Ibn Abbas: 'What is the hitting that is ghayr al-mubarrih?' He replied: '[With] the siwak and the like'." Narrated by al-Tabari in his Tafsir. (probably on the tafsir of this verse itself [4:34]

256498233 b9c5b8ddf3 o 1 - Wife beating verse [4:34] - quick and simple reply

256498233 b9c5b8ddf3 o 1 - Wife beating verse [4:34] - quick and simple reply

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh162/speed2kx/256498233_b9c5b8ddf3_o.jpg

And this is the last resort for the husband.

You [the Muslim] argue that if tafsir and understanding of Qur'an [according to the understanding of the companions is required for all other rules such as salah, hajj, and even fighting fi sabilillah, then so is it equally important to follow their interpretation of these matters - since they are also part of the Qur'an]

**barney** · 10-13-2008

The feet of the mother is a lovely hadith, but a wife has a different status to the mother.

I remember reading, dunno if its true, that the beating is only for matters where she is doing something unislamic? Rather than not washing up.
Might be wrong.

**doorster** · 10-13-2008

Originally Posted by barney

The feet of the mother is a lovely hadith, but a wife has a different status to the mother.

I remember reading, dunno if its true, that the beating is only for matters where she is doing something unislamic? Rather than not washing up.
Might be wrong.

The feet of the mother is a lovely hadith

I do not think that to be an authentic hadees at all

but these are:

"Never beat God's handmaidens."
"Could any of you beat your wife as he would a slave, and then lie with her in the evening?"

Regardless of the various positions and opinions, there is no permission established through the teachings of the Quran or the Sunnah (way) of Muhammad, peace be upon him, wherein one person could "beat" another person.

**TrueStranger** · 10-13-2008

'He it is who has sent down to thee the Book: in it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the book: others are allegorical, that is those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except God and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the book; the whole of it is from our Lord;" and none will grasp the message except men of understanding' (Al-Qur'an 3: 7).

Here muhkamat and mutashabihat are described as follows:

muhkama
:

Something of which knowledge was desired.
Something with only one dimension.
Something sufflcient in meaning, requiring no further explanation.

mutashabihat:

Something known to Allah only.
Something with more than one dimension.
Something requiring further explanation

**Muhammad** · 10-19-2008

Greetings,

There are a number of threads on this topic which one can read and gain an understanding of some degree. Rather than playing around with definitions and possible meanings that we can extract from our own opinions, I think the underlying concept is quite clear for anyone who wishes to know.

Firstly, Islam respects women, protects their dignity and protects them from mistreatment regardless of who the oppressor is. This ideal is clear to anyone who does so much as reads an English translation of the Qur'an, and there are numerous hadeeth which clearly command good treatment and kindness towards women, whether they are mothers or wives.

Secondly, Islam views the marriage as a sacred bond and as the verse outlines, there are steps one can take to save the marriage in cases where it is threatened. Clearly the last resort is not going to be to "tickle" one's wife as some have ridiculously supposed, neither is its purpose to harm her and cause physical damage, as would occur in wife battering. If we can understand these basic principles, and together with the meaning of Islam as a mercy to the world and all its teachings regarding justice, kindness, forgiveness and good treatment of women as mentioned above, there is no room left for misunderstanding on this topic. Regardless of whether the verse allows more than or less than a tap of the miswaak, we still know the oft-repeated principle that whatever it is, it should not cause injury, bruise or serious hurt.

If this much is clear for anyone with a bit of common sense, then there is no need to delve much further into the topic and become scholars of our own in deriving root meanings, alternative exegesis and the like.

Allaah (swt) deserves to be thanked for the guidance He has given mankind in dealing amongst themselves, and enlightening us through His infinite and perfect wisdom. He knows what is best for His creatures, and with this we place our full trust in all His perfect laws that He has enjoined upon us. If we really studied them and began to realise the truth behind them, the thought that the teachings were for some culture long ago would not even cross anyone's mind.

Thread closed.