My interpretation of that wife-beating verse 4:34
004.034
YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly 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 return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).
PICKTHAL: Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.
SHAKIR: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.
This is always problematical when people who have read the Koran bring it up.
If your wife is doing something really bad and annoying, eg permanently intoxicated, going out clubbing every night, obviously having an affair etc, you can deal with this by:
1. scolding her first.
If that doesn't work
2. making her sleep in the spare bedroom or sofa
If that doesn't work
3. you send out invitations to friends and family to witness a wife-beating in the matrimonial home. Ask them to come so that they can see to it that you don't beat her too hard, hurt her and get done for ABH or GBH.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3937038/gbh-abh-difference-serious-maximum-penalty-actual-grievous-bodily-harm/
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| How should the Speaker John Bercow chastise his wife? |
Sample wording to the invitation:
INVITATION TO WITNESS A WIFE-BEATING
It is with regret that I, Husband, am inviting you as a member of Wife's Family/Friends to witness a Wife-Beating.
She has been told not to do X which is unIslamic and unreasonable but she has not heeded my admonitions.
I then banished her from the matrimonial bed but that has not worked either. The next step is a beating according to 4:34, but I would not wish to inflict such a thing on Wife without witnesses for fear of getting carried away and committing ABH, GBH or even homicide.
May I therefore remind you of your Islamic duty to see to it that Wife comes to no harm and I do not end up in the dock.
No doubt she will want to give her side of things too before commencement of the beating, so it promises to be interesting! Do come.
Refreshments provided.
If that doesn't her make her fall in with your wishes you can proceed straight to divorce (but skipping the procedure of beating).
I suppose you could give her a slap on the wrist in front of the assembled guests, for form's sake.
Sorted!
In defence of that wife-beating verse in the Koran
@MrOzAtheist Did you even read that post? I said you can do the wife-beating thing without actually having to beat your wife.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@MrOzAtheist You probably don't even need to beat her. The humiliation should change her behaviour but if she doesn't then you divorce her.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@MrOzAtheist Wives like employees should get a verbal warning, a written warning and a final warning, which is what 4:34 is all about really
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@CAPT_Irrelevant @MrOzAtheist Are you saying that because we are now in the 21st century all wives are perfect?
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@MrOzAtheist What is necessary is never immoral. The threat of wife-beating may be necessary to save your marriage.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@MrOzAtheist What if the recalcitrant wife does not respond to the entreaties of her husband and only responds to the threat of a beating?
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@MrOzAtheist For some people - women as well as men - violence is the only language they understand.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@MrOzAtheist Wives can be very annoying and stubborn.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@MrOzAtheist What if the wife does not respond to reason? You have to up the ante to save your marriage.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@CAPT_Irrelevant @MrOzAtheist The wife gets an extra warning before divorce is initiated.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@SeanC_75 @MrOzAtheist If she doesn't respond to the beating you can proceed straight to divorce.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@joe_smith_83 @MrOzAtheist You want people to turn up for the wife-beating ceremony so you need to incentivise them by offering hospitality.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@martinhanratty @AFCGraMaChroi @MrOzAtheist You don't actually need to beat her. A slap on the wrist will do.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
@KatrinesSkrift @MrOzAtheist u need to prove u have tried everything before sacking her. Employees get a verbal, written and final warning.
— Claire Khaw (@ntfem) February 21, 2015
Comments
Were you raised in China?
I was not raised in China.
Written in a time misogyny was acceptable and people were rather weak.
There are two problems with it Clair. The first is that the wife and provider role is not one that the woman has a choice about in Islam. She cannot say, "hey I can choose to take care of myself or I can take my chance on getting beat up and have someone else take care of me". And she can't say, I'll get a job, pay half the bills, and then demand an equal role with no beatings.
Second, the assumption that a man will behave with restraint and fairness in giving beatings cannot be counted on at all. Once you give the green light with a verse like 4.34, everything goes out the window and millions of women are going to get the crap beat out of them by husbands that will feel no moral problem at all with doing it. The history of Islamic societies proves this to be true.
Anyway, I suspect the people most likely to suffer domestic violence are gay men.