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Ibn Majah 1985 – Incident Of Violence On Women In Medina
It was narrated that Iyas bin ‘Abdullah bin Abu Dhubab said:
“The Prophet said: ‘Do not beat the female slaves of Allah.’ Then ‘Umar came to the Prophet and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, the woman have become bold towards their husbands? So order the beatin g of them,’ and they were beaten. Then many women went around to the family of Muhammad,. The next day he said: ‘Last night seventy women came to the family of Muhammad, each woman complaining about her husband. You will not find that those are the best of you.’ “
(https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1985)
How to understand this? It has been graded as Saheeh.
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Ibn Majah 1985 – Incident Of Violence On Women In Medina
updated 1 year, 1 month ago
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This narration must be seen in its primitive tribal context and how a prophet of Allah in that society brings reform in a society. It must be admitted that certain sensitivities of primitive tribal society used to be different with current sensitivities on similar matters, but the basic sense of familial morality and societal morality has had always remained the same. How to deal with certain familial disputes involving rebellion is a matter of application and may vary from society to society with the ultimate aim of keeping intact the institution of family.
(For more details on the topic, please refer to the following response: Discussion 66019 • Reply 66064)
Since narrations lack their context, so we do not know what kind of rebellious behaviour is being discussed here and why certain husbands chose those extreme measures and whether they were really extreme or not, or was it also a part of rebellious scheme of those wives to exaggerate the matter and report to the wives of the Prophet (sws) .
What must be kept in mind is the fact that Prophet Muhammad (sws) in all circumstances condemned those actions of husbands and asked every one to treat their wives in the most honourable way.
One most important thing that needs to be kept in mind is the fact that this narration goes against the explicit directives of Quran (4:34). The nature of the marriage contract requires that if any of the parties violates it and in spite of counsel and advice, rebuke and reproach is not prepared to mend its ways, then it should be punished. This punishment can be meted out by a court and by the elders of the family. The Quran (4:34) has given this right to the husband also. It says that if a wife becomes rebellious by defying his authority, then he can resort to three options to save the family from dismembering and these options, if excercised, must be done so in the same order.
First, he should urge his wife to mend her ways. The word used by the Qur’an is وَعَظ which means that she can be admonished and also scolded to some extent in this regard.
Second, intimate marital relations with her should be suspended in order to communicate to her that if she does not mend her ways, she might have to face severe repercussions.
Third, she can be punished physically.
The question arises that how can Prophet Muhammad (sws) or any other person violate this clear directive of Quran and give a blanket permission to Sahaba to physically punish their wives without pursuing the correct order of the Quranic Directive. Therefore, the content (‘matan‘) of this narration is not acceptable as it goes against Quran.
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Please also refer to the video below from 1:11:04 to 1:13:14
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