Tuesday, June 12, 2007

The Qur'an, Surah 4:34

Surah 4:34 is a troubling passage which commands Muslim men to beat their rebellious wives. Since the passage speaks for itself, I will simply include four translations of the verse, so that readers may know that the meaning isn’t lost in translation. (Note that Ali adds the word "lightly" to water down the text.)

Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret what Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great. (Pickthall)

Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and forsake them in beds apart, and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God is high, supreme. (Dawood)

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whom part you fear disloyalty and ill conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance) for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all). (Yusuf Ali)

Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in their sleeping places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. (M.H. Shakir)

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22 comments:

Nabeel Qureshi said...

How about you start proofreading, Wood? You wrote "the" instead of "then" in the first quotation.

How are you ever gonna grow up to be a big, strong blogger with such horrendous mistakes?

David Wood said...

Thank you for the (constant) criticism.

B said...

Dear David


I am Bassam Zawadi, the owner of www.call-to-monotheism.com

I recommend you visit this link http://islamic-answers.com/does_islam_really_allow_wife_beating___ and I also recommend that you visit this link and tell me what you think of the portrayal of women in the Bible http://www.islamic-answers.com/women_in_the_bible

I have a question for you. Your bible prohibits divorce except if one spouse cheats on the other. But what if a wife is getting abused by her husband? According to Christianity, she has no right to divorce him for that reason and she is stuck with her abusive husband.

Atleast in islam, the woman could get divorced from the guy.

Kind regards,
Bassam Zawadi

Ace said...

Genesis 2 and 3: God has put forth a curse on women and that is the labor pain before she delivers (why?..because she was the one who was deceived by Satan and disobeyed the Lord (by the way it's only her and not the man.. yeah rite!!)!Thats why all the women from then are cursed !.. and you brother talk about women inequality? Its really easy to point out ! isnt it... Quran tells us 24:64 " Come to common terms.. that we shall prosper"... Islam is a religion of peace brother! hope u understand...tc

David Wood said...

Ace,

Did you actually read Genesis before you misrepresented it? If we simply read your misrepresentation, we would conclude that only Eve was punished, because only Eve sinned. What do we find when we read the actual text? There were three parties involved in the sin--Adam, Eve, and the Serpent. God punished all three of them. Yet, strangely, you focus only on Eve, and then condemn the Bible for condemning Eve alone!

It's sad that Muslims must constantly misrepresent the beliefs of others in order to draw attention away from the Qur'an.

-buraaq said...

Hello Mr. David Wood.

kindly visit the following article for some answers regarding this issue:

http://salvi.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/07/3003949-rights-of-women-in-islam

Peace.

Unknown said...

In the Bible man was cindemned along with the woman. Man was to struggle and work hard all the days if his life, sun up til sundown. A woman can divirce in the case if abuse. The Bible commands a woman to be submissive to her husband as her husband is submissive to God. If he is submissive to God he has AGAPE love for her... self sacrificing and loving her more than himself. Corinthians also teaches what love truly is. Jesus also states in Matthew chapter 5 that if a man looks upon a woman with lust HE is guilty of adultery! He doesn't have to actually have sex to be just as guilty. So that means men who indulge in porn are adulterers and whoremongers, even if done in secret.

Unknown said...

I find these comments regarding the bible and one having to stay in a abusive relationship obserd PLEASE READ.

If [a wife] should actually depart, let her remain unmarried or else make up again with her husband.—1 Cor. 7:11.

1 Cor 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace

God does not expect anyone to stay in such a situation,.

Unknown said...

1cor 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

Unknown said...

Why don't you all learn how to think for yourself instead of quoting old outdated texts written by male chauvinist!

May God Bless you all said...

I wish all could see truth and love it for what it is. This is truth all that would love God will be with Him in the end. God knows all and He would never forsake anyone who would come to Him. God has a people right now and those are the ones who walk in His love. His church gives to the less fortunate His church opens its doors in time of disaster and distress. His church is the body of Christ. I have seen Him answer my prayers He's spoken to me not just Words that I hear in my head but He has even spoken Words that I can hear with my ears. He has saved my life and set me free of bondage. He even healed my allergies that I had suffered with for twenty years.

One Day I was worried about my job and how I was going to suffer from working out doors. This was the first out for job that I had ever had and spring was around the corner. My allergies were so bad that I would spend spring and the beginning of summer in doors, but this day at work God spoke to me physical and told me that He could heal me. A week later I was suffering from allergies as I was driving in my work vehicle. I felt it was time to pray for the healing. So I went to a park and prayed and then right away my allergies left me. To make sure that I was healed and walked across a bridge that ran over a river and on the other side of the park there was a man cutting the grass. I walked up to his mower and hung out in the area where he was cutting grass. I did this to make sure that Jesus had healed me becasue you see I was very allergic to grass. I would cut the grass in the pouring rain so that I wouldn't get as bad of a nasal infection but you see with Jesus you can be set free. Many of my unsaved family members would say to me well you can be healed from allergies over time and then they can just go away. They say this becasue I testify of God, then I tell them well how did they go away in the matter of second. I was suffering in my vehicle with the window up and it has an air filter and I was suffering like I usually did when there was pollen in the air.. Then I go pray at a park where there was many tree and all different types pollen from the tree flys around I even go to the man cutting grass and nothing. I was allergic to many things beef dairy and so on but God healed me. I even gained twenty pounds because I was able to eat a lot of the foods that I couldn't before and my diareah went away. I had really suffered from allergies and my Lord healed me. It's not the first time nor was it the last time that I saw the hand of God. Jesus can heal and only Jesus can save. In the end we will all know Him as Lord but only those who believe in Him will be with him in the end. Jesus is love but He is also wrath, He will judge His enemies in the end. So turn from your sins and know Him the one true God and be saved. God Bless you all.

Unknown said...

Here is one of our efforts to clear up misconceptions of what Islam really teaches. I hope it helps.

The question: "Can Muslims beat their wives?"
You can visit www.SearchForIslam.com
then type in: husbands beat their wives

Try it. You will find the very first of the links to pop up is: http://www.islamswomen.com/marriage/wife_beating_in_islam.php

(answer is NO. They can't)

Unknown said...

I've noticed in all aspects muslons Muslim deflect all topic away from the man made quran

Fact is Muhammed was a wife beater

Sofi society said...

According to UN stats, 85% of Afgani women and 80% of women from Pakistan say they have been victims of domestic violence... Some one needs to spread the good word of Islam to those countries.

Rachamim Slonim Dwek said...

Yusuf Estes: You are an American, not a native Arabic speaker so either you do not even understabd the Arabic in Sura 4, Ayah 34 or else you are simply an Apologist lying to people and/or yourself. Knowing how long you have been a Muslim I am quite sure that your post was not one of ignorance but rather it was outright deceit. Are you saying ibn Abbas, Yusuf 'Ali and thousands of other classic theologians lied? That umpteenth Sahih Hadith are fabrications?

The key word in this discussion is the compound word "Idribohoon." To NOT mean "hit" or "beat" there would have to be a preposition, "An." There is no "An" in this Ayah let alone in front of "Idribohoon." Most Apologists such as yourself focus on the root "Drb," or with vowels, "Darbah." That is nonsensical since Semitic languages always have a tri-constanatal root. The way in which that root is utilised is dependent upon vowels and context. Please educate yourself if your mistake is rooted in ignorance. If you are not ignorant then please stop lying and show some integrity. Are you embarrassed about your chosen religion Mr. Estes? If not, why lie?

Unknown said...

Dear Muslims and Infidels alike,
I am neither a scholar, a Christian, nor a Muslim. I base what I believe on facts; I prefer to show what Islam actually *does*, than to argue about what it *says*. A wise teacher (not Muhammad) once said, "You shall know them by their fruits". Here are some fruits of Islam.
Afghanistan (HRW): 85% of women reported domestic violence against themselves.
Bangladesh (UN): 40-47%
Egypt (UN): 33%
Iran (WHO): 42.4% of wives sexually abused; (internal government study); 66% physically abused.
Jordan (UN): at least 20% of wives physically abused.
Pakistan (internal report): 90% of wives physically or sexually abused.
Palestine (International Research Development Center): 50% physically abused.
Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Justice) 45% of domestic violence claims by women.
Turkey (internal study): 40% of wives physically abused.

Well, it looks like a lot of men in Islamic nations think they can beat their wives. We must also remember that in Islamic society, reporting one's husband for crime brings dishonor on the family; therefore the rates are probably much higher.

Now in case someone is thinking of countering with western abuse statistics:
Australia (ABS Personal Safety Survey): 17% physically abused.
France (Amnesty International): 10% physically abused.
US (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence): 33% physically abused
A major difference here is that in civilized societies, we have laws against wife abuse, which laws are enforced. We also do not have a "holy" book that speaks of beating one's wife. People can play around with Qur'an 4.34, and try to say it doesn't mean that, but evidently a huge number of Muslim men agree with it as written. JB

Divine Justice said...

In case the woman is mentally sick with masochism then the only treatment for her sickness is either by mental abuse or physical abuse. Study masochism and you will find that the Quran is the only divine revelation that has the answer to masochism

KKH said...

@Divine Justice. You sound like the "mentally sick" one here. You are a disgusting pig who doesn't deserve a woman. Shove your abusive, backwards, oppressive book up your disgusting pig ass. Just REALLY get it WAY up there.

KKH said...

@John Boston. Yes, the "religion of peace". Right. Apparently that "peace" doesn't apply to the poor wives of most Muslim men. I feel bad for any woman who is ivolved with this "peaceful" joke of a religion.

KKH said...

Yusuf Estes. If you are living by what the Q'ran says, yes, they absolutely can beat their wives. Can you NOT read?

KKH said...

May God bless you all. First of all, you don't have "the truth", you have an "opinion". Which "god" is the "right one"...heck, whether or not there even IS a "god" is nothing more than your opinion.

And second; what does ANY OF THAT have to do with this article or Q'ran 4:34?

KKH said...

Ace. "Religion of peace..." Hahahaha, lolololololol... that's a good one! Yeah, right!!