Does Islam endorse wife-beating?

 

Does Islam endorse wife-beating?

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), he relates from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that He said:  If any husband beats his wife for her blunders, he will not be taken to task for it.

 

This is related by Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah.

 

It should be remembered that the Hadith says that if the husband beats the wife for a good enough reason, he will not be taken to task for it.  Valid reasons include not offering Salaat, not taking a bath (when unclean), not adorning themselves for the husband, denying the husband his sexual rights without a valid reason, leaving the house without the permission of the husband.  (Haashiya Mishkaat)

 

None of you should treat yours wives like slaves

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Zama’a (May Allah be well pleased with them), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  None of you should beat your wives the way slaves are beaten, then at the end of day you have sex with her.

 

In another Hadith, the words are:  People among you desire to beat their wives the way slaves are beaten.  Then maybe at the end of the day you will sleep with her.

 

Then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) then instructed those who laugh when others fart.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Why does any of you laugh at something (farting) although you yourself do the same.

         

This is related by both Bukhari and Muslim.

 

This Hadith says that the husband shouldn’t beat his wife the way slaves are beaten.  It might be that he establishes sexual relations with her at night.  This is not at all appropriate, neither according to the Shariah nor according to good etiquette that one savagely beat the one whom one sleeps with.  This Hadith suggests that as much as possible don’t beat your wives.  If at all, some great blunder has been committed by her, then one should express one’s displeasure with the tongue or stop having sex with her.  Even now if the wife doesn’t accept, then one may lightly beat her.  (Haashiya Mishkaat)

 

This Hadith also warns those who laugh when others fart that a human being should not laugh if others do a thing which he (or she) himself does.  This is because laughing at others is a form or disrespect and embarrassing others is against etiquette and good manners.

 

Instead of beating, one should counsel one’s wife

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Laqeet bin Sabrah  (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  I asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):  My wife’s tongue has a defect (i.e. she is harsh in speech).  He said:  Divorce her.  I said:  I have children from her and she has been with me for a long time (if I divorce her, it will pain me).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Then counsel her.  If there is any good in her, she will accept it.  However, don’t beat your wife as you would beat your slave-girl.

 

This is related by Abu Dawood.