Does Islam Religion Allow Wife Beating?

Does Islam allow wife beating? Some husbands are violent and they say that the Qur'an allows them to beat their wives. Is there any logical explanation given regarding men being allowed to beat their wives, as stated in surat An-Nisa', verse 34?

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Commenting on this issue, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, states:

"According to the Qur'an the relationship between the husband and wife should be based on mutual love and kindness. Allah says: "And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect." (Ar-Rum: 21).

The Qur'an urges husbands to treat their wives with kindness. Allah Almighty says: “Live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them it may be that you dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.” (An-Nisa’: 19).

It is important that a wife recognizes the authority of her husband in the house. However, in some cases a husband may use some light disciplinary action in order to correct the moral infraction of his wife, but this is only applicable in extreme cases and it should be resorted to if one is sure it would improve the situation. The word "beating" is used in the verse, but it does not mean "physical abuse". The Prophet explained it "dharban ghayra mubarrih" which means "a light tap that leaves no mark". Generally, the Prophet used to discourage his followers from taking even this measure. In one hadith he expressed his extreme repulsion from this behavior and said, "How does anyone of you beat his wife as he beats the stallion camel and then embrace (sleep with) her?” (Al-Bukhari, English Translation, vol. 8, Hadith 68, pp. 42-43).

Dr. Jamal Badawi, professor at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and a cross-appointed faculty member in the Departments of Religious Studies and Management, adds:

"If the problem relates to the wife's behavior, the husband may exhort her and appeal for reason. In most cases, this measure is likely to be sufficient. In cases where the problem persists, the husband may express his displeasure in another peaceful manner, by sleeping in a separate bed from hers. There are cases, however, in which a wife persists in bad habits and showing contempt of her husband and disregard for her marital obligations. Instead of divorce, the husband may resort to another measure that may save the marriage, at least in some cases. Such a measure is more accurately described as a gentle tap on the body, but never on the face, making it more of a symbolic measure than a punitive one.”

The question is: does Islam Religion allow wife beating? It must be seen as a rare exception to the repeated exhortation of mutual respect, kindness and good treatment. Based on the Qur'an and Hadith, this measure may be used in the cases of lewdness on the part of the wife or extreme refraction and rejection of the husband's reasonable requests on a consistent basis. What the Hadith qualifies as "dharban ghayra mubarrih", or light striking, was interpreted by early jurists as a use of siwak! In several hadiths, the Prophet discouraged this measure. Here are some of his sayings in this regard:

"Do not beat the female servants of Allah."

"Some (women) visited my family complaining about their husbands (beating them). These (husbands) are not the best of you."

Any excess, cruelty, family violence committed by any "Muslim" can never be traced, honestly, to any revelatory text. Allah Almighty knows best.