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Islamic Ruling On Beating Ones Wife

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Fatwaa.com

We acknowledge that Islām give rights to husband to beat his wife, but what if he does so unlawfully? What if he oppresses his wife and beats her unnecessarily?
What if he slaps her on her face?

Answer

Wa’alaykum as Salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhu,

There is no doubt that a woman has been given equal rights to that of a man in Islām. A man cannot oppress, tyrannize or manipulate his wife as he wishes.
Rather, Islām advocates that a man should treat his wife with utmost love, respect and dignity.

Our illustrious Fuqahā permit a husband to hit his wife slightly on a few occasions. The following four occasions (and occasions which are similar to them)
are mentioned in the books of fiqh:

1) If she refuses to beautify herself for her husband,

2) If she refuses to share the bed with him,

3) If she leaves the house with no necessity without his consent,

4) If she omits her compulsory prayers or omits performing ghusl after attaining purity from ḥayḍh. (There is difference of opinion on this last point;

Some jurists permit the husband to slightly hit his wife while others disagree.) Although there are certain times (there are four times in the Ḥanafi
maḍhab) permission is granted for a husband to hit his wife. However, the books of Ḥadīth are emphatic that he may only hit her slightly, in such a way
that he does not bruise her or cause her any injury.

It should be remembered that he can only hit her after first admonishing her, (and if that does not have an effect) then sleeping in a separate bed/room.
If still she does not comply, the husband will be permitted to beat his wife slightly without causing any wounds, injury or harm.

Again, this is only what is permissible and not what is commendable. It is preferable that the couple should be broadminded, forbearing and tolerate each
other. Hitting should be the last step after exhausting all avenues.

If the husband abuses this ‘responsibly’ and beats a wife without respecting the limits set down by the Qurān and Ḥadīth, then she can take him to an
Islāmic court and the judge will decide accordingly. She cannot take revenge on her own (this is for her betterment, otherwise, the husband will fight back
and a war will burst out in the house). This would however, only apply if here were bruises and injuries.

If he slapped her on the face and it did not cause any injuries, she would not be permitted to take him to court, although he will be sinning for violating
the laws of Islam.

However, if she gets injured, she may take legal action. The mere cause of injuries and wounds is enough for the wife to take the husband to court, even
though these wounds will heal in a short period of time. Of course, the judge would give an adequate ruling.

وفيها من أخر الجنايات ادعت على زوجها ضربا فاحشا وثبت ذلك عليه يعزر الزوج اه

وظاهره أنه لو لم يكن فاحشا وهو غير المبرح فإنه لا يعزر فيه
(البحر الرائق – (3 / 237)

ضرب الزوج زوجته لترك مطاوعته في الفراش فهلكت ضمن (المحيط البرهاني – (3 / 124)

لو ضرب امرأته على المضجع أو في أدب فماتت يضمن إجماعا وعليه الكفارة (البحر الرائق – (8 / 392)

ولو ضرب امرأته للنشوز فماتت منه يضمن (بدائع الصنائع – (6 / 381)

قال في البحر وصرحوا بأنه إذا ضربها بغير حق وجب عليه التعزير اه أي وإن لم يكن فاحشا (رد المحتار – ط. بابي الحلبي – (4 / 79)

ضرب امرأته تأديباً لها فماتت 1390

ولو ضرب امرأته في الأدب فماتت فإنه يضمن

(عيون المسائل – (1 / 280)

والزوج إذا ضرب امرأته بنشوز معتاد أو غير معتاد فماتت كان ضامناً عند الكل ولا يرثها في قولهم (فتاوى قاضيخان – (2 / 179)

رجل ضرب امرأته في أدب فماتت قال أبو حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى عليه الدية و الكفارة (فتاوى قاضيخان – (3 / 273)


وإن عزر زوج عرسه) على ترك الزينة، أو الإجابة إذا دعاها إلى فراشه، أو على الخروج من بيته فماتت (لا) أي لا يهدر دمها بل يضمن، لأن تعزيره إياها على هذه
الأشياء مباح ترجع منفعته إليه لا إليها، فيتقيد بشرط السلامة

وعلى هذا ينبغي أن لا يضرب امرأته على ترك الصلاة، أو على ترك غسل الجنابة، لأن منفعة ذلك عائدة إليها. وقد ذكر الحاكم: أنه لا يضرب امرأته على ترك الصلاة،
ويضرب ابنه عليها

(فتح باب العناية – (6 /
40)

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best
Wassalaam,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)
Iftaa Department,
Euro-Sunni & Islamic Research and Welfare Academy

This answer was collected from Fatwaa.com which is an excellent Q&A site managed by Mufti Ismail Moosa from South Africa. .

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