Protection of Women

Against Spousal Abuse

The men are made responsible for the women,
and God has endowed them with certain qualities,
and made them the bread earners.
The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement,
since it is God’s commandment,
and honor their husbands during their absence.
If you experience rebellion from the women,
you shall first talk to them,
then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed,
then you may (as a last alternative) beat them.
If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them.
God is Most High, Supreme
(Quran 4:34).

Many people when they first read the above verse, get the impression that men have permission to beat their wives as they wish. They for-get that “wife-beating” has always been a drama in all societies, and God is the One who is putting the maximum limitation on it.

When you read the verse carefully, thoughtfully, and you examine it, you will find that God meant to decree an applicable law to pre-vent men from beating their wives. And God did it with great wisdom, in order to obtain the best result

Envision a rebellious woman who is in such a situation. Her husband, who is obviously angry, might beat her. (Note: anger is the source of beating. A calm and gentle man will never beat his wife.) If the husband is a believer, he must go through the following process:

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