Wife Beating, Ordinance of Allah

[Timothy]

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As for those [women] from whom you fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to the bed apart and scourge them.

— Koran 4: 34

In accordance with the above revelation, when a husband calls his wife to his bed to have sexual intercourse, she must obey without a word no matter what her condition may be. She may be physically sick or simply indignant and indisposed, but that does not change the circumstance at all.

Muhammad is quoted as saying, "If a man invites his wife to sleep with him and she refuses to come to him, then the angels send their curses on her until morning." 1 Thus, the wife of a Muslim should always be ready to

come to bed and satisfy her husband's sensual desires; otherwise, she may be beaten by him and cursed by the angels of Allah, who apparently are commissioned to have a close watch over sexual affairs of a couple.

It is important to note that the word rebellion as used in the above quotation refers to any disobedience on the part of the female mate, not simply reluctance to engage in sex.If she refuses to sleep with her husband or does not obey his command, she will be admonished first, and later, the man is permitted by Allah to scourge his wife.The apologists hold that when the wife rebels against her mate, and her rebellion is of the "ordinary" nature, then she is admonished only. 2 M. 'Ali says:

It appears that confining [women] to the house is the first step, and it is when they repeat their evil deeds in the house, or do not submit to the authority of the husband and desert him, that permission is given to inflict corporal punishment, which is the last resort, and even if this step does not make them mend their ways, matrimonial relations may be ended. 3

In other words, if a woman merely resists her husband's wish or his authority, the Koran provides advice on how to handle her.If she hates her husband and resists his sensual desires, "a stronger remedy is suggested," and the husband is allowed to separate his bed or manifest his disapproval by separating himself from her while living in the same house as man and wife.Any disobedience and further misconduct of the wife beyond this degree necessitates scourging or beating followed by repudiation.