𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (302)

Is striking one's wife a lawful form of discipline? If admonition and shunning do not prove effective, it is permissible for a husband to strike his wife, as Allāh ﷻ said: ﴿وَٱلَّـٰتِی تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهۡجُرُوهُنَّ فِی ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضۡرِبُوهُنَّ﴾ "But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them [lightly]." [Surah An-Nisāʾ: 34] Ibn Kathir (may Allāh have mercy on him) said: "And His saying: (And strike them) means that if they do not respond to admonition or shunning, you are allowed to strike them lightly, as was confirmed in Sahih Muslim from Jābir, who narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said during the Farewell Pilgrimage: 'Be mindful of Allāh concerning women, for they are under your care. You have rights over them, and they have rights over you. Do not allow someone you dislike to sleep in your bed. If they do so, strike them lightly, but remember their rights to food and clothing in accordance with what is good.' Similarly, Ibn ’Abbās and others stated: a strike that is not severe. Al-Ḥasan Al-Baṣri explained that this means a strike that has no harmful effect. The scholars agree that this strike should not break any bones or cause lasting harm." [Tafseer Ibn Kathir (2/295)] At-Tabari reported in his Tafseer (6/712), with his chain of narration from Ibn Jurayj, from Ata, who said: "I asked Ibn Abbas: 'What is meant by a strike that is not severe?' He replied: 'With a miswak or something similar.'" It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Zam'ah that the Prophet ﷺ said: "None of you should lash his wife like a slave, and then have relations with her at the end of the day." [This is narrated by al-Bukhari (5204) and Muslim (2855)] Ibn Ḥajar (may Allāh have mercy on him) explained: "Usually, the one who is struck becomes repelled by the one who strikes him, which is why the disapproval of such actions is indicated. If striking is absolutely necessary, it should be done gently, ensuring that it does not lead to complete alienation. One should not excessively strike, nor excessively discipline." [Fat-h Al-Bari (9/309)] --------------------------- Sheikh As-Sa’di (may Allāh have mercy on him) said: "If the intended purpose is achieved through any of these measures (Admonition - Shunning - Striking gently) and they obey you, then {do not seek a way against them} – meaning that you have attained what you desired, so refrain from blaming them for past matters or searching for faults, as mentioning them may cause harm and lead to discord." [Tafsir As-Sa’di]