Does Islam Allow Wife Beating?

[WWW.LETMETURNTHETABLES.BLOGSPOT.COM] June 19, 2009

DOES ISLAM ALLOW WIFE BEATING? Q- Is it not true that Quran allows men to beat their wives? ANS: Some non-Muslims especially the Christians criticize and speak against Islam referring to the following verse. It says; 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). (al-Quran 4:34) Lets look into the issue:

Firstly, you cant just take a word of the Quran and comment the way you like. You ought to consider the whole Islamic moral and social make up, make a study in the very same context and then form your opinion; NOW consider the following points; 1-ISLAM asks both male and female to RESTRICT themselves only to their spouses. 2-ISLAM, in the strongest manner possible, condemns every extra-marital relation. 3-The permission to (lightly) beat women is not unconditional, nor it is in every situation. Lets see the context of the that; Quran says; "....therefore the righteous women are devotedly 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 turn to obedience, Seek not against them, means (of annoyance): For ALLAH is Most High, Great (above you all)."[Quran 4:34] This makes it absolutely clear that this permission is ONLY when women become disloyal--And again reading from start makes it clear that disloyalty here means something below dignity of a modest and chaste woman. 4-When a woman indulges into such an act then of a surety she would not be to her husband as she ought to be. This can even possibly make her husband slip away form the right path and he may get involved somewhere else. If such a stage arrives then this would be havoc not only for the couple and their relations but for the society as a whole. And this permission is a deterrence and a necessity against evil. 5-Even in that case, to beat is the LAST option. First is to admonish, if this does not work then next step is to part from their beds, and if this also fails then is light beating. 6-And even if such a stage arrives then also their are restraints,,,,"But if they turn to obedience, Seek not against them, Means of annoyance" 7-If at all a woman feels that she cannot live with her husband anymore, for any reason, she must get divorce and part, but as long as she is inside the marriage she must remain loyal to her husband even in his absence. For the mutual relation of the couple is the very basis of the society. 8-when interpreting a verse we have to take in consideration the Hadith of Holy Prophet(peace be upon him). He said;

[WWW.LETMETURNTHETABLES.BLOGSPOT.COM] June 19, 2009

"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, (in that case) chastise them in a way that leaves no mark (i.e. not severe). Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner." {Muslim :: Book 7 : Hadith 2803}

NOW LET ME TURN THE TABLES!!! Having known the Islamic view point now lets compare it with what Bible has to say about it; Bible says; "When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets: Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her." (Deuteronomy 25:11-12) Amazing !! If Islam asks for a light beating in case a wife degrades herself by indulging in open-lewdness and thus showing disloyalty to her husband they say its INHUMANE, BARBARIC but if the poor wife in her love with her husband tries to save the life of her husband they say cut off her hand, don't pity her !! Amazing !! Even if she gets hold of that man by taking him by his secrets, still she is trying to protect her husband not going into open lewdness anyway. You remember what Jesus (PBUH) said? "You blind guides, you strain out a gnat, and swallow the camel." {Mathew 23:24} So, the fact is that ISLAM allows this only in extreme conditions and that also not without restrictions. Infect Islam allows it only in the collective interest of the whole society. And those who speak about the issue are ignorant of Islam's high moral and ethical standards while Biblical standpoint lacks rationality and reason. What Islam allows cannot be even termed as beating in ordinary sense but what Bible allows must be termed as wife butchering. INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST!!!

....By Waqar Akbar Cheema