Hadith on wife and women beating - domestic
violence in Traditional Islamic sources
Some
references
are
shown
below
for
the
traditional
narrations:
Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number 2137:
Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri:
Mu'awiyah asked: Apostle of Allah, what is the right of the wife of one
of us over him? He replied: That you should give her food when you eat,
clothe her when you clothe yourself, do
not strike her on the face, do not revile her or separate
yourself from her except in the house.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/abudawud/011.sat.html#011.2137]
Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number 2138:
Narrated Mu'awiyah ibn Haydah:
I said: Apostle of Allah, how should we approach our wives and how
should we leave them? He replied: Approach your tilth when or how you
will, give her (your wife) food when you take food, clothe when you
clothe yourself, do not revile her face, and do not beat her.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/abudawud/011.sat.html#011.2138]
Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number
2139:
Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri:
I went to the Apostle of Allah and asked him: What do you say (command)
about our wives? He replied: Give them food what you have for yourself,
and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile
them.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/abudawud/011.sat.html#011.2139]
Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number
2141:
Narrated Abdullah ibn AbuDhubab:
Iyas ibn Abdullah ibn AbuDhubab reported the Apostle of Allah as
saying: "Do not beat Allah's
handmaidens", but when Umar came to the Apostle of Allah and
said: Women have become emboldened towards their husbands, he (the Prophet) gave permission to beat
them.
Then many women came round the family of the Apostle of Allah
complaining against their husbands. So the Apostle of Allah said: Many
women have gone round Muhammad's family complaining against their
husbands. They (the men) are not the
best among you.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/abudawud/011.sat.html#011.2141]
Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number
2142, classified as da'if/weak
by Al-Albaani:
Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:
The Prophet said: A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/abudawud/011.sat.html#011.2142]
Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73,
Number 68:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Zam'a:
The Prophet forbade laughing at a person who passes wind, and said, "How does anyone of you beat his wife as he
beats the stallion camel and then he may embrace (sleep with) her?"
And Hisham said, "As he beats his slave".
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/073.sbt.html#008.073.068]
Tafsir Ibn Kathir, chapter
68:
Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah said, "The Messenger of Allah never struck a servant of his with his
hand, nor did he ever hit a woman. He never hit anything with his hand,
except
for when he was fighting Jihad in the cause of Allah. And he was
never given the option between two things except that the most beloved
of the two to him was the easiest of them, as long as it did not
involve sin. If it did involve sin, then he stayed farther away from
sin than any of the people. He would not avenge himself concerning
anything that was done to him, except if the limits of Allah were
transgressed. Then, in that case he would avenge for the sake of
Allah.''
[online reference:
www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1282&Itemid=124]
Muslim, Book 004, Number 2127:
Muhammad b. Qais said (to the people): Should I not narrate to you (a
hadith of the Holy Prophet) on my authority and on the authority of my
mother? We thought that he meant the mother who had given him birth. He
(Muhammad b. Qais) then reported that it was 'A'isha who had narrated
this: Should I not narrate to you about myself and about the Messenger
of Allah (may peace be upon him)? We said: Yes. She said: When it was
my turn for Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) to spend the
night with me, he turned his side, put on his mantle and took off his
shoes and placed them near his feet, and spread the corner of his shawl
on his bed and then lay down till he thought that I had gone to sleep.
He took hold of his mantle slowly and put on the shoes slowly, and
opened the door and went out and then closed it lightly. I covered my
head, put on my veil and tightened my waist wrapper, and then went out
following his steps till he reached Baqi'. He stood there and he stood
for a long time. He then lifted his hands three times, and then
returned and I also returned. He hastened his steps and I also hastened
my steps. He ran and I too ran. He came (to the house) and I also came
(to the house). I, however, preceded him and I entered (the house), and
as I lay down in the bed, he (the Holy Prophet) entered the (house),
and said: Why is it, O 'A'isha, that you are out of breath? I said:
There is nothing. He said: Tell me or the Subtle and the Aware would
inform me. I said: Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be
ransom for you, and then I told him (the whole story). He said: Was it
the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. He struck me on the chest which caused me
pain,
and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal
unjustly with you? She said: Whatsoever the people conceal, Allah will
know it. He said: Gabriel came to me when you saw me. He called me and
he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed
it from you (for he did not come to you), as you were not fully
dressed. I thought that you had gone to sleep, and I did not like to
awaken you, fearing that you may be frightened. He (Gabriel) said: Your
Lord has commanded you to go to the inhabitants of Baqi' (to those
lying in the graves) and beg pardon for them. I said: Messenger of
Allah, how should I pray for them (How should I beg forgiveness for
them)? He said: Say, Peace be upon the inhabitants of this city
(graveyard) from among the Believers and the Muslims, and may Allah
have mercy on those who have gone ahead of us, and those who come later
on, and we shall, God willing, join you.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/004.smt.html#004.2127]
Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72,
Number 715:
Narrated 'Ikrima:
Rifa'a divorced his wife whereupon 'AbdurRahman bin Az-Zubair Al-Qurazi
married her. 'Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil
(and complained to her (Aisha) of her husband and showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating).
It was the habit of ladies to support each other, so when Allah's
Apostle came, 'Aisha said, "I have not
seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin
is greener than her clothes!"
When 'AbdurRahman heard that his wife had gone to the Prophet, he came
with his two sons from another wife. She said, "By Allah! I have done
no wrong to him but he is impotent and is as useless to me as this,"
holding and showing the fringe of her garment, 'Abdur-Rahman said, "By
Allah, O Allah's Apostle! She has told a lie! I am very strong and can
satisfy her but she is disobedient and wants to go back to Rifa'a."
Allah's Apostle said, to her, "If that is your intention, then know
that it is unlawful for you to remarry Rifa'a unless Abdur-Rahman has
had sexual intercourse with you." Then the Prophet saw two boys with
'Abdur-Rahman and asked (him), "Are these your sons?" On that
'AbdurRahman said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "You claim what you claim
(i.e.. that he is impotent)? But by Allah, these boys resemble him as a
crow resembles a crow,"
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/072.sbt.html#007.072.715]
Muslim, Book 009, Number
3506:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported: Abu Bakr came and sought permission to see
Allah's Messenger. He found people sitting at his door and none amongst
them had been granted permission, but it was granted to Abu Bakr and he
went in. Then came 'Umar and he sought permission and it was granted to
him, and he found Allah's Apostle sitting sad and silent with his
wives around him. He (Hadrat 'Umar) said: I would say something which
would make the Holy Prophet laugh, so he said: Messenger of Allah, I
wish you had seen (the treatment meted out to) the daughter of Khadija
when you asked me some money, and I got up and slapped her on her neck.
Allah's Messenger laughed and said: They are around me as you see,
asking for extra money. Abu Bakr then got up went to 'A'isha and slapped her on the neck, and 'Umar
stood up before Hafsa and slapped her
saying: You ask Allah's Messenger which he does not possess. They said:
By Allah, we do not ask Allah's Messenger for anything he does not
possess. Then he withdrew from them for a month or for twenty-nine
days. Then this verse was revealed to him:" Prophet: Say to thy
wives... for a mighty reward" (xxxiii. 28). He then went first to
'A'isha and said: I want to propound something to you, 'A'isha, but
wish no hasty reply before you consult your parents. She said:
Messenger of Allah, what is that? He (the Holy Prophet) recited to her
the verse, whereupon she said: Is it about you that I should consult my
parents, Messenger of Allah? Nay, I choose Allah, His Messenger, and
the Last Abode; but I ask you not to tell any of your wives what I have
said He replied: Not one of them will ask me without my informing her. God did not send me to be harsh, or cause
harm, but He has sent me to teach and make things easy.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/009.smt.html#009.3506]
Muslim, Book 009, Number
3526:
Fatima bint Qais reported that her husband divorced her with three,
pronouncements and Allah's Messenger made no provision for her lodging
and maintenance allowance. She (further said): Allah's Messenger said
to me: When your period of 'Idda is over, inform me. So I informed him.
(By that time) Mu'awiya, Abu Jahm and Usama b. Zaid had given her the
proposal of marriage. Allah's Messenger said: So far as Mu'awiya is
concerned, he is a poor man without any property. So far as Abu Jahm is
concerned, he is a great beater of
women,
but Usama b. Zaid. she pointed with her hand (that she did not approve
of the idea of marrying) Usama. But Allah's Messenger said: Obedience
to Allah and obedience to His Messenger is better for thee. She said:
So I married him, and I became an object of envy.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/009.smt.html#009.3526]
Muslim, Book 009, Number
3527:
Fatima bint Qais reported: My husband Abu 'Amr b. Hafs b. al-Mughira
sent 'Ayyish b. Abu Rabi'a to me with a divorce, and he also sent
through him five si's of dates and five si's of barley. I said: Is
there no maintenance allowance for me but only this, and I cannot even
spend my 'Idda period in your house? He said: No. She said: I dressed
myself and came to Allah's Messenger. He said: How many pronouncements
of divorce have been made for you? I said: Three. He said what he
('Ayyish b. Abu Rabi'a) had stated was true. There is no maintenance
allowance for you. Spend 'Idda period in the house of your cousin, Ibn
Umm Maktum. He is blind and you can put off your garment in his
presence. And when you have spent your Idda period, you inform me. She
said: Mu'awiya and Abu'l-Jahm were among those who had given me the
proposal of marriage. Thereupon Allah's Apostle said: Mu'awiya is
destitute and in poor condition and Abu'l-Jahm is very harsh with women (or he beats women),
you should take Usama b. Zaid (as your husband).
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/009.smt.html#009.3527
Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 82,
Number 828:
Narrated Aisha:
Abu Bakr came to towards me and struck
me violently
with his fist and said, "You have detained the people because of your
necklace." But I remained motionless as if I was dead lest I should
awake Allah's Apostle although that hit was very painful.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/082.sbt.html#008.082.828]
Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62,
Number 132:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Zam'a:
The Prophet said, "None of you should flog his wife as he flogs a slave
and then have sexual intercourse with her in the last part of the day."
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/062.sbt.html#007.062.132]
Abu Dawud, Book 1, Number 0142:
Narrated Laqit ibn Sabirah:
I (the narrator Laqit) then said: Messenger of Allah, I have a wife who
has something (wrong) in her tongue, i.e. she is insolent. He said:
Then divorce her. I said: Messenger of Allah, she had company with me
and I have children from her. He said: Then ask her (to obey you). If
there is something good in her, she will do so (obey); and do not beat your wife as you beat your
slave-girl.
[online reference:
www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/abudawud/001.sat.html#001.0142]
Hadith quoted in Imam
Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-Id-Din, Marriage section:
“The most perfect of believers in faith are those who are the finest in
manners and most gentle toward their wives.”
[online reference:
www.ghazali.org/works/marriage.htm]
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi
(3895) and Ibn Majaah (1977), also quoted in Imam Ghazzali's Ihya
Ulum-Id-Din, Marriage section:
"The best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best
of you to my wives."
[online
reference: www.ghazali.org/works/marriage.htm]