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[quote]Conclusion of the above discussion on Understanding Islam web site

The preceding discussion on "Beating Women (Wives)" has been kept unaltered, except for a few minor alterations of the nature of editing. However, according to my revised opinion regarding the related verses of the Qur'an, it now seems to me that the basic stress in these verses of the Qur'an is to hinder a person from using force in correcting a domestic problem situation. The Qur'an, it should be observed, has not merely stated that in case a wife is persistent in disrupting the peace and tranquility of a household, her husband should beat her to bring her in line; on the contrary, the Qur'an has actually hindered the man from using force for correcting such a situation by directing him to resort to admonition. Then again, if continual and sincere admonitions of the man seem to be falling on deaf ears, even then the man cannot use force for correcting the situation. The Qur'an has once again hindered the person from using force, by directing him to show his disapproval of the wife's behavior by resorting to restraint in his conjugal relations with his wife. This restraint, once again, is in the hope to make the wife realize her mistakes.

If we keep the occurrences of domestic abuse and violence - even in the modern "civilized world" - in perspective, we shall observe that it is not whether a person enjoys a legal right to beat his wife or not, which plays any role in such domestic violence. On the contrary, such physical violence is a result, generally, of an emotional outbreak and extreme anger. Man, due to the greater physical strength that he, generally, has as compared to a woman, has a higher tendency of resorting to physical violence in a state of extreme anger and an emotional outbreak. It is, in fact, in such a state of mind that man is most likely to physically harm a woman or to seriously injure her by resorting to force. The Qur'an, it should be observed, has disallowed the man from taking to force in such a state of mind. It has directed the man that even under enraging circumstances, the man should admonish the wife and advise her to correct her behavior. Thus, if seen in the correct perspective, the Qur'an has, in fact, hindered the man from resorting to physical force at the time when he is most likely to do so. In other words, the stated directive of the Qur'an is actually a directive for self-control and self-restraint for the man. Moreover, the act of admonition, which is recommended by the Qur'an at this stage, provides an opportunity for the exchange of views between the two individuals. This opportunity enhances any chance of correction of the situation through dialogue. However, if this dialogue does not improve the situation, even then the man is disallowed from resorting to any physical force. Even now, the Qur'an wants the man to practice self-restraint and to avoid all physical violence. On the contrary, it has directed the man to sever his conjugal relations with the woman, to show his disapproval of the situation.

Thus, seen in the aforementioned perspective, the stated directive of the Qur'an is, in fact, to deter a person from resorting to any physical force in a state of mind, when he is most likely to take a rash action.[/quote]

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