Women are abused in all cultures. However, only in Islam is the abuse of women given the sanction of the almighty, so that the perpetrators can go away feeling righteous. The Qur’an teaches that men are superior to women and should beat those from whom they “fear disobedience”: “Men have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because Allah has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.” — Qur’an 4:34
Muhammad’s child bride, Aisha, says in a hadith that Muhammad “struck me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: ‘Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?’” — Sahih Muslim 2127
Another hadith states: “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 Messenger came, Aisha said, ‘I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!’” — Sahih Bukhari 7.77.5825
But Ahmad Karima wants us to know that wife-beating is not a duty. It’s not required, it’s just allowed. What a guy.
“Ahmad Karima, Professor Of Islamic Law At Egypt’s Al-Azhar University: Islam Permits Beating One’s Wife As A Disciplinary Measure, But It Is Not A Religious Duty,” MEMRI, February 7, 2022:
Ahmad Karima, a professor of Islamic Law at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, said in a February 7, 2022 interview on Channel 1 (Egypt) that Islam permits beating one’s wife as a “method” of discipline, it is not a religious duty. He also explained that it is only appropriate to beat a rebellious wife who “oversteps the boundaries set by Allah,” and not for minor mistakes.
Ahmad Karima: “There are specific cases. Instead of calling it wife-beating, we can call it a way of disciplining our wives. There is a difference between a wife who makes a minor mistake and a woman who rebels against her husband. This discipline method is suitable for a rebellious wife, who oversteps boundaries set by Allah.
“This is the meaning of Allah’s words in Surat Al-Nida [sic]: ‘As for the women of whom you fear disobedience, admonish them, forsake them in bed and beat them. Then if they obey you, do not seek ways to harm them.’
“While discussing this verse, the jurisprudents did not interpret that admonishing wives, forsaking them in bed, and beating them without causing harm is a necessary religious duty. No, yet it is permitted. We must draw a distinction here: It is neither a mandatory duty nor a recommended action. However, the jurisprudents determined that this is permitted. It is permitted to do this or not to do this.”
Source: memri, jihad watch
DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text.