Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Punishing Disobedient Wives

Punishing Disobedient Wives

I find it unacceptable when some people twist the meaning of a particular verse in the Holy Qur’an — especially the one which permits a husband to beat his disobedient wife. Those who do the twisting must understand that the permission is only given under certain circumstances and that the beating is intended as a remedy for specific situations. It is unfortunate that some well-known and respected Muslim scholars have either willingly or unwillingly joined a campaign seeking to distort the meaning of that particular verse. The beating which is only prescribed in the case of disobedient wives is intended to serve as a remedy in an unusual situation. If the husband feels the wife is behaving in a disobedient and rebellious manner, he is required to rectify her attitude — first by kind words, then gentle persuasion and reasoning. Beating as a last resort must never be understood to entail using a stick or any other instrument that would cause pain or injury. A rebellious woman who is not moved by kind works, persuasion and admonition is a woman of no feeling and must therefore be punished by beating. Psychiatrists tell us of people, including women, for whom a cure lies in beating. The controversy over the beating of disloyal and rebellious women is part of the campaign against Islam. If beating disobedient wives was advocated by Western scientists, it would have been widely supported by the same people who criticize Islam and special centers would have been set up all over the world to train husbands on how to beat their wives.


To understand this particular verse in the Koran, read this article:

Beat your wives or “separate from them”?

2 Comments:

At August 24, 2005 9:43 PM, Blogger Jude the Obscure said...

Is there also an article, then, on honour killings? (Justification of, defence of, misreading of by non-Muslims, etcetera ad nauseam...)

 
At August 24, 2005 11:33 PM, Blogger Rick Darby said...

I guess when you're conversing with a Muslim man, "Have you quit beating your wife?" isn't a loaded question. It's just exchanging pleasantries.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home