Answering misconceptions and false claims about some Hadith regarding Women
By
Karim
(He is a new convert to Islam, from the Netherlands)
Answering false claim nr.1:
‘An answer to the false claim made by anti islamic people that the prophet one time beat aicha'
(misunderstood hadith) Sahih 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.
Answer to the mistranslation:
The term used in the hadith is:
Imam Nawawi in his Sharh states that:
The word "lahada" according to the lexicographers means, "to push" (dafa'a).
The usage of the word "struck" is not a correct translation. Rather, the phrase should be translated as (as Gf haddad said):
- He pushed my chest with a push that made me sore
Secondly, this calls to an important matter that is related to the Hand imposition of the Prophet - Allah bless him - because it is a gesture associated with driving away evil influence (waswâs) and conferring blessing as the following reports show:
1. Ubay ibn Ka`b said: "There occurred in my mind a sort of denial which did not occur even during the Days of Ignorance. When the Messenger of Allah - Allah bless and greet him - saw how I was affected, he slapped me on the chest. I broke into a sweat and felt as if I were looking at Allâh in fear."
(Sahih Muslim)
2. Jarir ibn Abdullah Al Bajalî was sent by the Prophet - Allah bless him - on a mission to destroy Dhu Al Kahalasa, the idol-house of Khatham, nicknamed the Yemenite Kaba. Jarr narrates:
"I went along with a hundred and fifty horsemen but I could not sit steadily on horse. I mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah - Allah bless and greet him - who then struck his hand on my chest so hard that I could see the trace of his fingers on it, saying: 'O Allah! Grant him steadfastness and make him a guide of righteousness and a rightly-guided one!' (Bukhari and Muslim)
More proof that the correct translation is
'He pushed my chest with a push that made me sore'
Aaishah (Radhiallahu 'Anha) said: "Allaah's Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) never hit anything with his hand ever, except when fighting in the path of Allaah. Nor did he ever hit a servant or a woman." [Recorded by Ibn Maajah. Al-Albaanee graded it Saheeh.]
Wife-beating can't be considered "in the Cause of Allaah" - the reference in the Hadeeth is a reference to Jihaad on the battlefield. "When the prohibitions of Allaah were violated" is a reference to someone committing a crime, and their being tried and then punished by flogging. This is not a reference to the way a husband should treat his wife.
So here we clearly see in a sahih (authentic) hadith that Aisha clearly told that the prophet ‘never hit a servent or a women'.
So this is also a clear proof that The usage of the word "struck" is not a correct translation. Rather, the phrase should be translated as (as Gf haddad said):
- He pushed my chest with a push that made me sore
Answering false claim nr.2:
‘an answer to the false claim that evil omen is in the women'
(misunderstood hadith) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 30:
Narrated Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "Evil omen is in the women, the house and the horse.'
Answer: the Hadith mentioned above has come in most of the major books of Hadith in the words near to the ones quoted here. However, the following text of it contained in the sixth volume of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal's Musnad presents the true picture in this regard:
Answering false claim nr.3:
'answering the false claim that women are compared to dogs'
(misunderstood hadith)
Abu Dharr reported: The messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:
When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman and black dogg.I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1032- see also Number 1034)
'Urwa b. Zubair reported: 'A'isha asked: What disrupts the prayer? We said: the woman and the ass. Upon this she remarked: is the women an ugly animal? I lay in front of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) like the bier of a corpse and he said prayer. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1037)
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Qatadah said: I heard Jabir ibn Zayd who reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas; and Shu'bah reported the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) as saying: a menstruating women and a dogg cut off the prayer. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 2, Number 0703)
These hadith mostly posted by anti islamic people gives someone the idea that women are compared to dogs and asses (=donkey) , what they fail to do is showing the hadith which nullify their claim.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 9, Number 487 & 488:
The prophet also had no problem at all with his wife being close to him while praying:
Answering false claim nr.4:
‘answering the false claim that women are oppressed in islam'
(misunderstood hadith) Sahih al-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,"
In the above Hadith, there are few points to notice and mention:
1- The man failed to follow Noble Verse 4:34 which was sent by Allah Almighty to protect women from harmfull men.
2- The woman was trying to get back with her first husband. In Islam, if a woman gets divorced or divorces herself from her husband through the Islamic court by "Khala'", then the only way she can get back with her husband, or her husband gets back to her is by HER MARRYING ANOTHER PERSON, HAVE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH HIM, AND THEN GET A DIVORCE FROM HIM. This is to guarantee that divorce would not be a joke among Muslims.
3- The woman was claiming that her second husband was sexually no good. The husband disputed that, and brought his two sons from another marriage as a proof that he can perform sex. The Prophet peace be upon him then told the woman "by Allah, these boys resemble him as a crow resembles a crow".
4- Aisha's opinion about the woman's bruise doesn't prove or disprove anything. She got angry because she saw another woman badly beaten, which is perfectly fine and acceptable. But her emotions and opinions are not Islamic Verdicts!
Many authentic hadith proof that Islam liberated women and made them free. See hadith Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2138 & 2139.
In ‘Sahih Muslim, Book 018, Number 4251' we see that a woman in islam is even allowed to take from her husband's property without his knowledge if he falls below this basic level of supporting her. Also Umar Ibn khattab told the prophet that ‘women had the upperhand over men in Medina in' in Sahih Bukhari,Volume 7, Book 62, Number 119' , the prophet showed a smile after hearing this.
This clearly proofs that aicha's reaction was based on emotions, which is normal and perfectly fine. We also have to notice that in pre-islamic (before islam) time women were depressed by the arabs, Islam came to liberate those women and to give them many rights. Unfortunately some muslim men (still today) fail to follow the true message of Islam, instead of this they follow their evil (pagan) cultural practices and customs! , this has nothing to do with Islam! Islam honours women and clearly fobids the cruel beating of wives!
Secondly the hadith tells only one part of the incident, it doesn't mention anything about the decision made by the prophet after this incident , simply because only one part of the story is known and written down. So it's rediculous to say that Islam and the prophet allowed wife beating, as a matter of fact the opposite is true!
Noble Verses and Sayings about the prohibition of wife beating:
The following Noble Verses and Sayings from the Noble Quran and Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him respectively seem to very well support the above interpretation:
"...Do not retain them (i.e., your wives) to harm them..."(The Noble Quran, 2:231)
"If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, God is well-acquainted with all that ye do." (The Noble Quran, 4:128)
Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: "I went to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) 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."
(Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2139)
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."
(Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2138)
"on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and God brings about through it a great deal of good." (The Noble Quran, 4:19)
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well' Nr. 279. Iyas ibn 'Abdullah ibn Abi Dhubab reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not beat the female slaves of Allah." Then 'Umar came to the Prophet and said, "The women have become bold towards their husbands," and so he made an allowance to beat them. Then many women surrounded the family of the Messenger of Allah to complain about their husbands. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The people of the household of Muhammad have surrounded by many women who are complaining about their husbands. Those men are not among the best of you."
Another authentic version in Sahih Ibn Hibban (9:491) adds that the Prophet
then revoked the dispensation.
Also the prophet did never beat any of his wives
Aaishah (Radhiallahu 'Anha) said: "Allaah's Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) never hit anything with his hand ever, except when fighting in the path of Allaah. Nor did he ever hit a servant or a woman." [Recorded by Ibn Maajah. Al-Albaanee graded it Saheeh.]
As muslims we have to follow the example of the prophet (who never beat his wives !)
"You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example for him who hopes in Allah and the Last Day and who remember Allah much" Surah Ahzab [33:21]
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well', nr 278. Abu Hurayra stated, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character. The best of you are those who are the best to their women.'" [at-Tirmidhi]
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well', nr. 275. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes something in her character, he should be pleased with some other - or another- trait of hers." [Muslim]
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well', nr. 273. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Treat women well. Woman was created from a rib. The most crooked part of the rib is the top part. If you try to straighten it, you will break it. If you leave it, it remains crooked. So treat women well."
His statement that "the best of you are the best in their behavior towards their wives, and I am the best of you in my behavior towards my wives"shows that
(1) wife-beaters are the worst men and
(2) no Muslim wife-beater can possibly claim to imitate the Prophet
, although Allah Most High said to imitate him
: {Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the last Day, and remembereth Allah much}
(Quran 33:21).
Answering false claim nr.5:
(misunderstood hadith) Sunan 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.
false claim by quoting this hadith ‘islam is an religion that supports wife beating and slavery'
Answer:
Many anti-islamic sites quote this hadith to support their false claim about Islam. Their tactic is to quote only one part or one hadith about a certain issue/subject/ruling . The next thing they do is adding their own false interpretation to it. They hide other hadith and quranic verses about the same subject which expose their false claims.
To fully understand this hadith we have to study 'the position and treatment of slaves in islam' and the 'the treatment of wives in islam'.
{...Wa allaatiy takhaafoona nushoozahunna fa'idhoohunna wahjuroohunna fiy al-madhaaji'i wadhriboohunna fa in ata'nakum falaa tabghoo 'alaihinna sabeelan inna Allaha kaana 'aliyyan kabeeran.}
{...And (as for) those (women) from whom you anticipate rebellion, admonish them, avoid them in the sleeping place and hit them. If they obey you, do not desire and further way to (harm) them. Surely, Allah is Knowing, Great.} An-Nisaa:34
It is incomprehensible how so many translators have translated the word "wadhriboohunna" in the above verse as "beat them" or, even more laughable: "beat them [lightly]". This is wrong, wrong, wrong. It is an abomination which has caused much misunderstanding and opened the door to the enemies of Islam. The word in Arabic means to "strike" or "hit". It inludes everything from a tap with a tooth-stick to what in English we call beating. If it is stated that so-and-so "hit" so-and-so without further description, it would be assumed to be a single blow and it could be of any magnitude.
When the Prophet (sas) took a tiny stick and tapped one of the Muslims on the stomach to straighten the ranks in preparation for war, he "hit" him with this meaning. Contrast this to the English phrase: "beat them". The meaning is totally different. If you took a shoe lace and hit someone on the hand with it, you could properly say dharabtahu in Arabic but in English you could never say that you had "beaten" that person. Please get this straight and correct anyone you hear distorting the meaning of this verse in this way.
The verse mentions admonition, boycotting and hitting in the case of nushooz. This refers to a rebellion against the husband's authority within the marriage which amounts to a breach of the marriage contract on her part.
Many scholars have stated that the three steps must be taken sequentially, i.e, admonition then separation in sleeping and finally (light) hitting, making (light) hitting a last resort only in extreme situations. Thus the vast majority of whan men do to their wives in spontaneous fits of rage often over trivial issues is absolutely haraam and not sanctioned by Islam in any way. Imam An-Nawawi said about his:
"At the first indication of disobedience to marital authority, a wife should be exhorted by her husband without his immediately breaking off relations with her. When she manifests her disobedience by an act which, although isolated, leaves no doubt to her intentions, he should repeat his exhortations and confine her to the house but without striking her... Only when there are repeated acts of disobedience may a husband strike his wife."
As we said, this can NEVER be a "beating". A husband is never allowed to strike his wife in any way which causes injury or leaves any kind of mark. The Prophet (sas) said during the Farewell Hajj:
"Fattaqoo Allaha fiy an-nisaa'i fa innakum akhadhtumoohunna bi amaani Allahi wa istahlaltum furoojahunna bi kalimati Allahi wa lakum 'alaihinna an laa yooti'na furushakum ahadan takrahoonahu fa in fa'alna dhaalika fadhriboohunna dharban ghaira mubarrihin wa lahunna 'alaikum rizquhunna wa kiswatuhunna bi al-ma'roofi."
"So beware of Allah regarding women for you have taken them as a trust from Allah and you have made their bodies lawful with the word of Allah. You have the right over them that they should not allow anyone on your furnishings who you dislike. If they do that, hit them in a way which causes no injury. And, they have the right over you to provision and clothing according to custom." (Bukhari & Muslim)
Proof from authentic hadith shows that it is not generally permitted to hit one's wife
Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: "I went to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) 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. (Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2139)"
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. (Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2138)"
171. Abu Mas'ud said, "I was beating a slave of mine when I heard a voice behind me, 'Know, Abu Mas'ud, that Allah is able to call you to account for this slave.' I turned around and there was the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. I said, 'Messenger of Allah, he is free for the sake of Allah!' He said, 'If you had not done that, the Fire would have touched you (or the Fire would have burned you).'"
174. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of you strikes his servant, let him avoid his face."
176. Hilal ibn Yasaf said, "We used to sell linen in the house of Suwayd ibn Muqarrin. A slavegirl came out and said something to one of the men and that man slapped her. Suwayd ibn Muqarrin asked him, 'Did you slap her face? We were seven and we only had a single servant. Then one of us slapped her and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered him to set her free.'"
177. Ibn 'Umar said, "I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'The expiation for someone who slaps his slave or beats him more than he deserves is to set him free.'"
181. 'Ammar ibn Yasir said, "None of you beats his slave unjustly without the slave receiving retaliation from him on the Day of Rising."
188. Jabir ibn 'Abdullah said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, advised that slaves should be well-treated. He said, 'Feed them from what you eat and clothe them from what you wear. Do not punish what Allah has created.'"
190. Sallam ibn 'Amr reported from one of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Your slaves are your brothers, so treat him well. Ask for their help in what is too much for you and help them in what is too much for them."
Hadith Book: Riyad as-Salihin » On the prohibition against cruelty to a slave, animal, woman, or child without legitimate reason
1606. Hisham ibn Hakim ibn Hizam reported that in Syria he passed by some of the Nabatean peasants who had been made to stand in the sun with oil poured on their heads. He said, "What is this?" He was told, "They are being punished on account of the land-tax." (One variant has, "They have been imprisoned on account of the jizya-tax.") Hisham said, "I testify that I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Allah will punish those who torture people in this world.'" He went to the amir and told him and he commanded that they be released. [Muslim]
The Prophet, upon him peace, had stipulated in his "last pilgrimage" speech:
"And your slaves! see that you feed them such food as you eat yourselves and dress them
what you yourself wear. And if they commit a mistake which you are not inclined to forgive then sell them, for they are the servants of Allah and are not to be tormented!"
In another hadith he said, upon him blessings and peace: "Be kind to slaves as to your own children...and those that say their prayers are your brethren."
"The masters were obliged not to put slaves under hardship; slaves were not to be tortured, abused or treated unjustly. They could marry among themselves with their master's permission - or with free men or women! They could appear as witnesses and participate
with free men in all affairs. Many of them were appointed as governors, commanders of army and administrators. In the eyes of Islam, a pious slave has precedence over an
impious free man." Al-Tabataba'i, Tafsir (16:338-358).
158. 'Ali reported that the last words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, were: "The prayer! The prayer! Fear Allah concerning your slaves!"
(Al-Adab al-Mufrad Al-Bukhari )
We would like to stress that Islam caters for rights of every creature. It urges a Muslim to show good and kind treatment to anyone under his/her control; he should neither maltreat him or her nor should he subject him/her to any form of exploitation.
Islam totally objects and fights all forms of slavery. The focus of Islam in all its teachings and rites was to eradicate this prevailing practice. Now, slavery has been abolished by international conventions, and this goes in line with aims and objectives of Islam.
Islam came to liberate slaves, in islam only war captives were enslaved, these slaves were freed later by the rules of Islam, It was back then in the time of Mohammed sws for humanity and the societies sake that prisoners of ware were enslaved, so that they were protected against poor life, bad living conditions, prostitution to make money, and to prevent homeless childeren.
We should remember when the Caliph `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said in a famous khutbah (Speech or sermon) of his, "When did you make the people as slaves or servants of you while Allah, the Almighty, created them free?!"
Again, the Prophet peace be upon him said:
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari: "The Prophet said, "Give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in captivity (by paying his ransom)." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Food, Meals, Volume 7, Book 65, Number 286)"
Narrated Asma: "No doubt the Prophet ordered people to manumit slaves during the solar eclipse. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Eclipses, Volume 2, Book 18, Number 163)"
Let us look at Noble Verse 24:33 "Let those who find not the wherewithal for marriage keep themselves chaste, until God gives them means out of His grace. And if any of your slaves ask for a deed in writing (to enable them to earn their freedom for a certain sum), give them such a deed if ye know any good in them: yea, give them something yourselves out of the means which God has given to you. But force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion, is God, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to them)," In this Noble Verse, we see that if a slave requests his freedom from his Muslim master, then his master not only must help him earn his freedom if there is good in the Slave, but also pay him money so the slave can have a good start in his free life.
This means that the Muslims from the very beginning advocated the freedom of all human beings and were against the oppression of free people by tyrants and dictator leaders."
Having clarified the above, we would like to states that it was a war custom in the past to take men and women as captives and then turn them into slaves.Islam did not initiate it, rather, it was something in practice long ago before the advent of Islam. And when Islam came, it tried to eradicate (erase) this practice, bit by bit. So it restricted it to the reciprocal practice of war, in the sense that Muslims took war captives just as the enemies did with them. Later these slaves were freed.
These encouraging teachings served as incentives towards the emancipation of slaves and slaves were liberated by the thousands.
1. All the apostate tribes that were enslaved during the Khilaafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr Radhiallahu Anhu were to be freed.
2. A Zimmi (protected non-Muslim subject of an Islamic state) should not be enslaved.
3. Arabs will not be enslaved.
4. Those who had been enslaved during the days of ignorance (prior to the advent of Islam) and had lived to witness the Islamic era, should redeem themselves from slavery by paying their costs (their value) to their owners whether they were willing or not.
As a result of all these laws, there came a time when slavery was totally extirpated. But of course, this extirpation came about after a gradual process because that was the only safe and expedient way of tackling the problem.
The Hadith we showed before (see page ) proofs clearly that cruel beating and beating someone in the face is strictly forbidden in Islam. Secondly we proofed (see: Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage Kitab Al-Nikah, Number 2138 and 2139 & Riyad as-Salihin, chapter 34, ‘Treating women well') that it is the right of the Muslim wife that she is not to be hit except in the case of nushooz (repeated rebellion against the husband's authority). Even in that case, the husband is only allowed to "hit" her, but in a way which does no harm, similar to the proper disciplining of a child. It is never lawful for him to hit her face or cause her any bruise or injury. Further we clearly proofed with the sunna of the prophet that if a person tortures or cruel beats another person (slave/free person) he/she will be punished for this action by Allah swt on the day of reseruction.
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.
(beat is a not correct translation, correct translation= hit)
The Hadith makes clear that laqit Ibn Sabirah was having problems with his wive, cause of her insolent behaviour. Notice how the prophet responded to laqit ibn Sabirah, he didn't say anyhting like ‘beat your insolence wife to discipline her', this sort of teaching has no place in Islam, instead of this the prophet advised Laqit Ibn Sabirah to divorce or in other words seperate from his wive (temporary or not temporary) . This way of dealing with your wife's rebellion is exactly described in the Quran chapter An-nisa verse 34. The prophet's advise in this hadith was off course based on the law of Allah swt (chapter An-nisa verse 34). Laqit Ibn Sabirah made the prophet clear that divorce was a difficult issue for him since he and his wive were having children, the prophet replied to him with the advise to talk to his wive about the problem (her insolent behaviour) , thats why the prophet said:
'Then ask her (to obey you) , with this the prophet ment ‘ask your wife to stop her insolent behaviour'
If all of this doesn't solve the issue, and for example a wife keeps repeating her insolence behaviour over and over, then this is in the Islamic law the onlysituation in which a husband is allowed to hit his wive lightly (not in the face and not painfull) , BUT because the prophet discouraged this option and warned those men who hit their wives (see hadith: Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well',Nr. 279) it is stated that : 'hitting your wife lightly in this situation is only permitted when one is reasonably sure that there will be general benefit in it and this benefit is greater than the associated harms '(this is mentioned in ‘Sultan al-Ulama Izz Ibn Abd al-Salam' quoted by Ibn Allan al-Bakri in his Sharh Riyad al-Salihin and quoted by many other great scholar in islam's history),
The prophet wanted to remind laqit Ibn Sabirah that he (in the situation of Qur'ran verse 4:34) in no way is even allowed to discipline his noble wive in the same non-brutal way he would discipline his slavegirl . The prophet clearly told his companions to not hit their wives (See Riyad as-Salihin, Chapter:' Treating women well') , he discouraged this and warned those men who hit their wives , but if a husband does hit his wife (if he can't control himself in the situation of Quran verse 4:34 ), then he has to do this in certain limits (only a light hit, wich causes no harm, and not on the face, and secondly he is not even allowed to discipline his wife in the same non-brutal way he would discipline his slavegirl ), otherwise he has to fear punishment from Allah swt. And this was exactly the point the prophet wanted to make clear to Laqit Ibn Sabirah in the discussed Hadith. A husband's wife has the right to be treated in excellence (mentioned by the prophet in his Farewell speech), and therefore it would be even a shame if a husband discplines his wife in the same non-brutal way he would discipline his slavegirl in the situation of Quran verse 4:34 (in general it is strictly forbidden for the husband to hit his wife), not because a slave is less then a free person, but because a husband's wife has the right to be treated like the best by her husband! , a husband has to make his wife feel that she is special to him (see tafsirIbn Kathir ‘An-Nisa 19' quoted at page 18 ). That's why Allah swt and the prophet said:
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well' , nr 278. Abu Hurayra stated, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character. The best of you are those who are the best to their wives.'" [at-Tirmidhi]
"on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and God brings about through it a great deal of good. (The Noble Quran, 4:19)"
We know understand the true meaning of the hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 1, Number 0142. The false anti-islamic claim about this hadith has been exposed.
Finally check the great speech "Fulfilling the rights of women with excellence" by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani at:
http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/QA00003955.aspx (Taken from: Clear Paths to the Gardens of the Righteous Imam Nawawi's Riyad al-Salihin Explained, using classical sources Selected hadiths from Imam Nawawi's Riyad al-Salihin (‘Gardens of the Righteous') are explained using Imam Ibn `Allan al-Bakri's commentary, Dalil al-Falihin (‘Guide for the Successful'), and other hadith commentaries and classic scholarly references. The commentary shows us how to soundly understand and live the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), and brings out the deep meanings of the words of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), whom Allah gave, "The most encompassing speech," [as related in a hadith in Bukhari and Muslim] for his guidance is brief in words yet oceanic in depth)
(see also page , for other hadith who proof this excellence treatment to women in islam)
By
Karim
(He is a new convert to Islam, from the Netherlands)
Answering false claim nr.1:
‘An answer to the false claim made by anti islamic people that the prophet one time beat aicha'
(misunderstood hadith) Sahih 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.
Answer to the mistranslation:
The term used in the hadith is:
Imam Nawawi in his Sharh states that:
The word "lahada" according to the lexicographers means, "to push" (dafa'a).
The usage of the word "struck" is not a correct translation. Rather, the phrase should be translated as (as Gf haddad said):
- He pushed my chest with a push that made me sore
Secondly, this calls to an important matter that is related to the Hand imposition of the Prophet - Allah bless him - because it is a gesture associated with driving away evil influence (waswâs) and conferring blessing as the following reports show:
1. Ubay ibn Ka`b said: "There occurred in my mind a sort of denial which did not occur even during the Days of Ignorance. When the Messenger of Allah - Allah bless and greet him - saw how I was affected, he slapped me on the chest. I broke into a sweat and felt as if I were looking at Allâh in fear."
(Sahih Muslim)
2. Jarir ibn Abdullah Al Bajalî was sent by the Prophet - Allah bless him - on a mission to destroy Dhu Al Kahalasa, the idol-house of Khatham, nicknamed the Yemenite Kaba. Jarr narrates:
"I went along with a hundred and fifty horsemen but I could not sit steadily on horse. I mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah - Allah bless and greet him - who then struck his hand on my chest so hard that I could see the trace of his fingers on it, saying: 'O Allah! Grant him steadfastness and make him a guide of righteousness and a rightly-guided one!' (Bukhari and Muslim)
More proof that the correct translation is
'He pushed my chest with a push that made me sore'
Aaishah (Radhiallahu 'Anha) said: "Allaah's Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) never hit anything with his hand ever, except when fighting in the path of Allaah. Nor did he ever hit a servant or a woman." [Recorded by Ibn Maajah. Al-Albaanee graded it Saheeh.]
Wife-beating can't be considered "in the Cause of Allaah" - the reference in the Hadeeth is a reference to Jihaad on the battlefield. "When the prohibitions of Allaah were violated" is a reference to someone committing a crime, and their being tried and then punished by flogging. This is not a reference to the way a husband should treat his wife.
So here we clearly see in a sahih (authentic) hadith that Aisha clearly told that the prophet ‘never hit a servent or a women'.
So this is also a clear proof that The usage of the word "struck" is not a correct translation. Rather, the phrase should be translated as (as Gf haddad said):
- He pushed my chest with a push that made me sore
Answering false claim nr.2:
‘an answer to the false claim that evil omen is in the women'
(misunderstood hadith) Volume 7, Book 62, Number 30:
Narrated Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "Evil omen is in the women, the house and the horse.'
Answer: the Hadith mentioned above has come in most of the major books of Hadith in the words near to the ones quoted here. However, the following text of it contained in the sixth volume of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal's Musnad presents the true picture in this regard:
- Abu-Hassan reports that two people came to A'ishah and said to her that Abu Hurayrah narrates that the Prophet used to say that bad luck is to be found only in women, horses and houses. At this A'ishah replied: By the God who revealed the Qur'an to the Prophet! The Prophet never said this; what he did say was that the People of the Jahilliyyah hold this opinion…
Answering false claim nr.3:
'answering the false claim that women are compared to dogs'
(misunderstood hadith)
Abu Dharr reported: The messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:
When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman and black dogg.I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1032- see also Number 1034)
'Urwa b. Zubair reported: 'A'isha asked: What disrupts the prayer? We said: the woman and the ass. Upon this she remarked: is the women an ugly animal? I lay in front of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) like the bier of a corpse and he said prayer. (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1037)
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
Qatadah said: I heard Jabir ibn Zayd who reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas; and Shu'bah reported the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) as saying: a menstruating women and a dogg cut off the prayer. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 2, Number 0703)
These hadith mostly posted by anti islamic people gives someone the idea that women are compared to dogs and asses (=donkey) , what they fail to do is showing the hadith which nullify their claim.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 9, Number 487 & 488:
- Narrated Abu Salih As-Samman: I saw Abu Said Al-Khudri praying on a Friday, behind something which acted as a Sutra. A young man from Bani Abi Mu'ait, wanted to pass in front of him, but Abu Said repulsed him with a push on his chest. Finding no alternative he again tried to pass but Abu Said pushed him with a greater force. The young man abused Abu Said and went to Marwan and lodged a complaint against Abu Said and Abu Said followed the young man to Marwan who asked him, "O Abu Said! What has happened between you and the son of your brother?" Abu Sa'id said to him,"I heard the Prophet saying, 'If anybody amongst you is praying behind something as a Sutra and somebody tries to pass in front of him, then he should repulse him and if he refuses, he should use force against him for he is a satan.' "
- Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 9, Number 489:
Narrated Busr bin Said: that Zaid bin Khalid sent him to Abi Juhaim to ask him what he had heard from Allah's Apostle about a person passing in front of another person who was praying. Abu Juhaim replied, "Allah's Apostle said, 'If the person who passes in front of another person in prayer knew the magnitude of his sin he would prefer to wait for 40 (days, months or years) rather than to pass in front of him." Abu An-Nadr said, "I do not remember exactly whether he said 40 days, months or years."
The prophet also had no problem at all with his wife being close to him while praying:
- Volume 1, Book 9, Number 493:
Narrated 'Aisha: The things which annual prayer were mentioned before me (and those were): a dog, a donkey and a woman. I said, "You have compared us (women) to donkeys and dogs. By Allah! I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in (my) bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I disliked to sit and trouble the Prophet. So, I would slip away by the side of his feet." - Volume 1, Book 9, Number 491:
Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet used to pray while I was sleeping across in his bed in front of him. Whenever he wanted to pray Witr, he would wake me up and I would pray Witr. - Volume 1, Book 9, Number 495:
Narrated Abu Qatada Al-Ansari:Allah's Apostle was praying and he was carrying Umama the daughters of Zainab, the daughter of Allah's Apostle and she was the daughter of 'As bin Rabi'a bin 'AbduShams. When he prostrated, he put her down and when he stood, he carried her (on his neck).
- Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 9, Number 497:
Narrated Maimuna: The Prophet used to pray while I used to sleep beside him during my periods (menses) and in prostrations his garment used to touch me.
Answering false claim nr.4:
‘answering the false claim that women are oppressed in islam'
(misunderstood hadith) Sahih al-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,"
In the above Hadith, there are few points to notice and mention:
1- The man failed to follow Noble Verse 4:34 which was sent by Allah Almighty to protect women from harmfull men.
2- The woman was trying to get back with her first husband. In Islam, if a woman gets divorced or divorces herself from her husband through the Islamic court by "Khala'", then the only way she can get back with her husband, or her husband gets back to her is by HER MARRYING ANOTHER PERSON, HAVE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH HIM, AND THEN GET A DIVORCE FROM HIM. This is to guarantee that divorce would not be a joke among Muslims.
3- The woman was claiming that her second husband was sexually no good. The husband disputed that, and brought his two sons from another marriage as a proof that he can perform sex. The Prophet peace be upon him then told the woman "by Allah, these boys resemble him as a crow resembles a crow".
4- Aisha's opinion about the woman's bruise doesn't prove or disprove anything. She got angry because she saw another woman badly beaten, which is perfectly fine and acceptable. But her emotions and opinions are not Islamic Verdicts!
Many authentic hadith proof that Islam liberated women and made them free. See hadith Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2138 & 2139.
In ‘Sahih Muslim, Book 018, Number 4251' we see that a woman in islam is even allowed to take from her husband's property without his knowledge if he falls below this basic level of supporting her. Also Umar Ibn khattab told the prophet that ‘women had the upperhand over men in Medina in' in Sahih Bukhari,Volume 7, Book 62, Number 119' , the prophet showed a smile after hearing this.
This clearly proofs that aicha's reaction was based on emotions, which is normal and perfectly fine. We also have to notice that in pre-islamic (before islam) time women were depressed by the arabs, Islam came to liberate those women and to give them many rights. Unfortunately some muslim men (still today) fail to follow the true message of Islam, instead of this they follow their evil (pagan) cultural practices and customs! , this has nothing to do with Islam! Islam honours women and clearly fobids the cruel beating of wives!
Secondly the hadith tells only one part of the incident, it doesn't mention anything about the decision made by the prophet after this incident , simply because only one part of the story is known and written down. So it's rediculous to say that Islam and the prophet allowed wife beating, as a matter of fact the opposite is true!
Noble Verses and Sayings about the prohibition of wife beating:
The following Noble Verses and Sayings from the Noble Quran and Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him respectively seem to very well support the above interpretation:
"...Do not retain them (i.e., your wives) to harm them..."(The Noble Quran, 2:231)
"If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, God is well-acquainted with all that ye do." (The Noble Quran, 4:128)
Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: "I went to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) 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."
(Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2139)
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."
(Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2138)
"on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and God brings about through it a great deal of good." (The Noble Quran, 4:19)
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well' Nr. 279. Iyas ibn 'Abdullah ibn Abi Dhubab reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not beat the female slaves of Allah." Then 'Umar came to the Prophet and said, "The women have become bold towards their husbands," and so he made an allowance to beat them. Then many women surrounded the family of the Messenger of Allah to complain about their husbands. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The people of the household of Muhammad have surrounded by many women who are complaining about their husbands. Those men are not among the best of you."
Another authentic version in Sahih Ibn Hibban (9:491) adds that the Prophet
Also the prophet did never beat any of his wives
Aaishah (Radhiallahu 'Anha) said: "Allaah's Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) never hit anything with his hand ever, except when fighting in the path of Allaah. Nor did he ever hit a servant or a woman." [Recorded by Ibn Maajah. Al-Albaanee graded it Saheeh.]
As muslims we have to follow the example of the prophet (who never beat his wives !)
"You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example for him who hopes in Allah and the Last Day and who remember Allah much" Surah Ahzab [33:21]
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well', nr 278. Abu Hurayra stated, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character. The best of you are those who are the best to their women.'" [at-Tirmidhi]
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well', nr. 275. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes something in her character, he should be pleased with some other - or another- trait of hers." [Muslim]
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well', nr. 273. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Treat women well. Woman was created from a rib. The most crooked part of the rib is the top part. If you try to straighten it, you will break it. If you leave it, it remains crooked. So treat women well."
His statement that "the best of you are the best in their behavior towards their wives, and I am the best of you in my behavior towards my wives"shows that
(1) wife-beaters are the worst men and
(2) no Muslim wife-beater can possibly claim to imitate the Prophet
(Quran 33:21).
Answering false claim nr.5:
(misunderstood hadith) Sunan 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.
false claim by quoting this hadith ‘islam is an religion that supports wife beating and slavery'
Answer:
Many anti-islamic sites quote this hadith to support their false claim about Islam. Their tactic is to quote only one part or one hadith about a certain issue/subject/ruling . The next thing they do is adding their own false interpretation to it. They hide other hadith and quranic verses about the same subject which expose their false claims.
To fully understand this hadith we have to study 'the position and treatment of slaves in islam' and the 'the treatment of wives in islam'.
- the treatment of wives in islam:
{...Wa allaatiy takhaafoona nushoozahunna fa'idhoohunna wahjuroohunna fiy al-madhaaji'i wadhriboohunna fa in ata'nakum falaa tabghoo 'alaihinna sabeelan inna Allaha kaana 'aliyyan kabeeran.}
{...And (as for) those (women) from whom you anticipate rebellion, admonish them, avoid them in the sleeping place and hit them. If they obey you, do not desire and further way to (harm) them. Surely, Allah is Knowing, Great.} An-Nisaa:34
It is incomprehensible how so many translators have translated the word "wadhriboohunna" in the above verse as "beat them" or, even more laughable: "beat them [lightly]". This is wrong, wrong, wrong. It is an abomination which has caused much misunderstanding and opened the door to the enemies of Islam. The word in Arabic means to "strike" or "hit". It inludes everything from a tap with a tooth-stick to what in English we call beating. If it is stated that so-and-so "hit" so-and-so without further description, it would be assumed to be a single blow and it could be of any magnitude.
When the Prophet (sas) took a tiny stick and tapped one of the Muslims on the stomach to straighten the ranks in preparation for war, he "hit" him with this meaning. Contrast this to the English phrase: "beat them". The meaning is totally different. If you took a shoe lace and hit someone on the hand with it, you could properly say dharabtahu in Arabic but in English you could never say that you had "beaten" that person. Please get this straight and correct anyone you hear distorting the meaning of this verse in this way.
The verse mentions admonition, boycotting and hitting in the case of nushooz. This refers to a rebellion against the husband's authority within the marriage which amounts to a breach of the marriage contract on her part.
Many scholars have stated that the three steps must be taken sequentially, i.e, admonition then separation in sleeping and finally (light) hitting, making (light) hitting a last resort only in extreme situations. Thus the vast majority of whan men do to their wives in spontaneous fits of rage often over trivial issues is absolutely haraam and not sanctioned by Islam in any way. Imam An-Nawawi said about his:
"At the first indication of disobedience to marital authority, a wife should be exhorted by her husband without his immediately breaking off relations with her. When she manifests her disobedience by an act which, although isolated, leaves no doubt to her intentions, he should repeat his exhortations and confine her to the house but without striking her... Only when there are repeated acts of disobedience may a husband strike his wife."
As we said, this can NEVER be a "beating". A husband is never allowed to strike his wife in any way which causes injury or leaves any kind of mark. The Prophet (sas) said during the Farewell Hajj:
"Fattaqoo Allaha fiy an-nisaa'i fa innakum akhadhtumoohunna bi amaani Allahi wa istahlaltum furoojahunna bi kalimati Allahi wa lakum 'alaihinna an laa yooti'na furushakum ahadan takrahoonahu fa in fa'alna dhaalika fadhriboohunna dharban ghaira mubarrihin wa lahunna 'alaikum rizquhunna wa kiswatuhunna bi al-ma'roofi."
"So beware of Allah regarding women for you have taken them as a trust from Allah and you have made their bodies lawful with the word of Allah. You have the right over them that they should not allow anyone on your furnishings who you dislike. If they do that, hit them in a way which causes no injury. And, they have the right over you to provision and clothing according to custom." (Bukhari & Muslim)
Proof from authentic hadith shows that it is not generally permitted to hit one's wife
Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: "I went to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) 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. (Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2139)"
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. (Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah), Number 2138)"
- the position and treatment of slaves in islam: The prophet forbade cruel beating of a slave and cruelty against slaves:
171. Abu Mas'ud said, "I was beating a slave of mine when I heard a voice behind me, 'Know, Abu Mas'ud, that Allah is able to call you to account for this slave.' I turned around and there was the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. I said, 'Messenger of Allah, he is free for the sake of Allah!' He said, 'If you had not done that, the Fire would have touched you (or the Fire would have burned you).'"
174. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of you strikes his servant, let him avoid his face."
176. Hilal ibn Yasaf said, "We used to sell linen in the house of Suwayd ibn Muqarrin. A slavegirl came out and said something to one of the men and that man slapped her. Suwayd ibn Muqarrin asked him, 'Did you slap her face? We were seven and we only had a single servant. Then one of us slapped her and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered him to set her free.'"
177. Ibn 'Umar said, "I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'The expiation for someone who slaps his slave or beats him more than he deserves is to set him free.'"
181. 'Ammar ibn Yasir said, "None of you beats his slave unjustly without the slave receiving retaliation from him on the Day of Rising."
188. Jabir ibn 'Abdullah said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, advised that slaves should be well-treated. He said, 'Feed them from what you eat and clothe them from what you wear. Do not punish what Allah has created.'"
190. Sallam ibn 'Amr reported from one of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Your slaves are your brothers, so treat him well. Ask for their help in what is too much for you and help them in what is too much for them."
Hadith Book: Riyad as-Salihin » On the prohibition against cruelty to a slave, animal, woman, or child without legitimate reason
1606. Hisham ibn Hakim ibn Hizam reported that in Syria he passed by some of the Nabatean peasants who had been made to stand in the sun with oil poured on their heads. He said, "What is this?" He was told, "They are being punished on account of the land-tax." (One variant has, "They have been imprisoned on account of the jizya-tax.") Hisham said, "I testify that I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Allah will punish those who torture people in this world.'" He went to the amir and told him and he commanded that they be released. [Muslim]
The Prophet, upon him peace, had stipulated in his "last pilgrimage" speech:
"And your slaves! see that you feed them such food as you eat yourselves and dress them
what you yourself wear. And if they commit a mistake which you are not inclined to forgive then sell them, for they are the servants of Allah and are not to be tormented!"
In another hadith he said, upon him blessings and peace: "Be kind to slaves as to your own children...and those that say their prayers are your brethren."
"The masters were obliged not to put slaves under hardship; slaves were not to be tortured, abused or treated unjustly. They could marry among themselves with their master's permission - or with free men or women! They could appear as witnesses and participate
with free men in all affairs. Many of them were appointed as governors, commanders of army and administrators. In the eyes of Islam, a pious slave has precedence over an
impious free man." Al-Tabataba'i, Tafsir (16:338-358).
158. 'Ali reported that the last words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, were: "The prayer! The prayer! Fear Allah concerning your slaves!"
(Al-Adab al-Mufrad Al-Bukhari )
We would like to stress that Islam caters for rights of every creature. It urges a Muslim to show good and kind treatment to anyone under his/her control; he should neither maltreat him or her nor should he subject him/her to any form of exploitation.
Islam totally objects and fights all forms of slavery. The focus of Islam in all its teachings and rites was to eradicate this prevailing practice. Now, slavery has been abolished by international conventions, and this goes in line with aims and objectives of Islam.
Islam came to liberate slaves, in islam only war captives were enslaved, these slaves were freed later by the rules of Islam, It was back then in the time of Mohammed sws for humanity and the societies sake that prisoners of ware were enslaved, so that they were protected against poor life, bad living conditions, prostitution to make money, and to prevent homeless childeren.
We should remember when the Caliph `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said in a famous khutbah (Speech or sermon) of his, "When did you make the people as slaves or servants of you while Allah, the Almighty, created them free?!"
Again, the Prophet peace be upon him said:
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari: "The Prophet said, "Give food to the hungry, pay a visit to the sick and release (set free) the one in captivity (by paying his ransom)." (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Food, Meals, Volume 7, Book 65, Number 286)"
Narrated Asma: "No doubt the Prophet ordered people to manumit slaves during the solar eclipse. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Eclipses, Volume 2, Book 18, Number 163)"
Let us look at Noble Verse 24:33 "Let those who find not the wherewithal for marriage keep themselves chaste, until God gives them means out of His grace. And if any of your slaves ask for a deed in writing (to enable them to earn their freedom for a certain sum), give them such a deed if ye know any good in them: yea, give them something yourselves out of the means which God has given to you. But force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion, is God, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (to them)," In this Noble Verse, we see that if a slave requests his freedom from his Muslim master, then his master not only must help him earn his freedom if there is good in the Slave, but also pay him money so the slave can have a good start in his free life.
This means that the Muslims from the very beginning advocated the freedom of all human beings and were against the oppression of free people by tyrants and dictator leaders."
Having clarified the above, we would like to states that it was a war custom in the past to take men and women as captives and then turn them into slaves.Islam did not initiate it, rather, it was something in practice long ago before the advent of Islam. And when Islam came, it tried to eradicate (erase) this practice, bit by bit. So it restricted it to the reciprocal practice of war, in the sense that Muslims took war captives just as the enemies did with them. Later these slaves were freed.
These encouraging teachings served as incentives towards the emancipation of slaves and slaves were liberated by the thousands.
- Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam himself freed 63 slaves,
- Hazrat Abu Bakr Radhiallahu Anhu freed 63,
- Hazrat Abdur-Rahman bin Auf Radhiallahu Anhu 30,000
- Hazrat Hakim bin Huzam Radhiallahu Anhu 100
- Hazrat Abbas Radhiallahu Anhu 70
- Hazrat Ayesha Radhiallahu Anha 69
- Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar Radhiallahu Anhu 100
- Hazrat Uthman Radhiallahu Anhu used to free one slave every Friday and he would say that he would free any slave who performed his prayers with humility.
- Hazrat Zul-Kilah Radhiallahu Anhu freed 8,000 slaves in a single day.
1. All the apostate tribes that were enslaved during the Khilaafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr Radhiallahu Anhu were to be freed.
2. A Zimmi (protected non-Muslim subject of an Islamic state) should not be enslaved.
3. Arabs will not be enslaved.
4. Those who had been enslaved during the days of ignorance (prior to the advent of Islam) and had lived to witness the Islamic era, should redeem themselves from slavery by paying their costs (their value) to their owners whether they were willing or not.
As a result of all these laws, there came a time when slavery was totally extirpated. But of course, this extirpation came about after a gradual process because that was the only safe and expedient way of tackling the problem.
The Hadith we showed before (see page ) proofs clearly that cruel beating and beating someone in the face is strictly forbidden in Islam. Secondly we proofed (see: Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Marriage Kitab Al-Nikah, Number 2138 and 2139 & Riyad as-Salihin, chapter 34, ‘Treating women well') that it is the right of the Muslim wife that she is not to be hit except in the case of nushooz (repeated rebellion against the husband's authority). Even in that case, the husband is only allowed to "hit" her, but in a way which does no harm, similar to the proper disciplining of a child. It is never lawful for him to hit her face or cause her any bruise or injury. Further we clearly proofed with the sunna of the prophet that if a person tortures or cruel beats another person (slave/free person) he/she will be punished for this action by Allah swt on the day of reseruction.
- Keeping all this ( we mentioned before) in mind, we have the correct knowledge to understand the hadith quote in Sunan Abu Dawud:
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.
(beat is a not correct translation, correct translation= hit)
The Hadith makes clear that laqit Ibn Sabirah was having problems with his wive, cause of her insolent behaviour. Notice how the prophet responded to laqit ibn Sabirah, he didn't say anyhting like ‘beat your insolence wife to discipline her', this sort of teaching has no place in Islam, instead of this the prophet advised Laqit Ibn Sabirah to divorce or in other words seperate from his wive (temporary or not temporary) . This way of dealing with your wife's rebellion is exactly described in the Quran chapter An-nisa verse 34. The prophet's advise in this hadith was off course based on the law of Allah swt (chapter An-nisa verse 34). Laqit Ibn Sabirah made the prophet clear that divorce was a difficult issue for him since he and his wive were having children, the prophet replied to him with the advise to talk to his wive about the problem (her insolent behaviour) , thats why the prophet said:
'Then ask her (to obey you) , with this the prophet ment ‘ask your wife to stop her insolent behaviour'
If all of this doesn't solve the issue, and for example a wife keeps repeating her insolence behaviour over and over, then this is in the Islamic law the onlysituation in which a husband is allowed to hit his wive lightly (not in the face and not painfull) , BUT because the prophet discouraged this option and warned those men who hit their wives (see hadith: Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well',Nr. 279) it is stated that : 'hitting your wife lightly in this situation is only permitted when one is reasonably sure that there will be general benefit in it and this benefit is greater than the associated harms '(this is mentioned in ‘Sultan al-Ulama Izz Ibn Abd al-Salam' quoted by Ibn Allan al-Bakri in his Sharh Riyad al-Salihin and quoted by many other great scholar in islam's history),
The prophet wanted to remind laqit Ibn Sabirah that he (in the situation of Qur'ran verse 4:34) in no way is even allowed to discipline his noble wive in the same non-brutal way he would discipline his slavegirl . The prophet clearly told his companions to not hit their wives (See Riyad as-Salihin, Chapter:' Treating women well') , he discouraged this and warned those men who hit their wives , but if a husband does hit his wife (if he can't control himself in the situation of Quran verse 4:34 ), then he has to do this in certain limits (only a light hit, wich causes no harm, and not on the face, and secondly he is not even allowed to discipline his wife in the same non-brutal way he would discipline his slavegirl ), otherwise he has to fear punishment from Allah swt. And this was exactly the point the prophet wanted to make clear to Laqit Ibn Sabirah in the discussed Hadith. A husband's wife has the right to be treated in excellence (mentioned by the prophet in his Farewell speech), and therefore it would be even a shame if a husband discplines his wife in the same non-brutal way he would discipline his slavegirl in the situation of Quran verse 4:34 (in general it is strictly forbidden for the husband to hit his wife), not because a slave is less then a free person, but because a husband's wife has the right to be treated like the best by her husband! , a husband has to make his wife feel that she is special to him (see tafsirIbn Kathir ‘An-Nisa 19' quoted at page 18 ). That's why Allah swt and the prophet said:
Riyad as Saliheen, chapter 34, ‘treating women well' , nr 278. Abu Hurayra stated, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character. The best of you are those who are the best to their wives.'" [at-Tirmidhi]
"on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and God brings about through it a great deal of good. (The Noble Quran, 4:19)"
We know understand the true meaning of the hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 1, Number 0142. The false anti-islamic claim about this hadith has been exposed.
Finally check the great speech "Fulfilling the rights of women with excellence" by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani at:
http://www.sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/QA00003955.aspx (Taken from: Clear Paths to the Gardens of the Righteous Imam Nawawi's Riyad al-Salihin Explained, using classical sources Selected hadiths from Imam Nawawi's Riyad al-Salihin (‘Gardens of the Righteous') are explained using Imam Ibn `Allan al-Bakri's commentary, Dalil al-Falihin (‘Guide for the Successful'), and other hadith commentaries and classic scholarly references. The commentary shows us how to soundly understand and live the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), and brings out the deep meanings of the words of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), whom Allah gave, "The most encompassing speech," [as related in a hadith in Bukhari and Muslim] for his guidance is brief in words yet oceanic in depth)
(see also page , for other hadith who proof this excellence treatment to women in islam)
