Understanding Islam — Page 144
ARE WOMEN VIOLENTLY OPPRESSED IN ISLAM? 142 In the event that the husband has to take this recourse to chastisement, Prophet Muhammad sa has clarified that it should not be the form of chastisement which is on the face or that which leaves a mark on the body. 19 As a result, this is a symbolic form of punishment left for the most exceptional of situations. No wonder then that there is no incident in the life of Prophet Muhammad sa when he had to chastise any of his wives. On the other hand, if the husband abuses this last recourse afforded to him, and is harsh with his wife in any way, the wife has the option to take the matter to an Islamic judge for resolution. A great scholar of the Holy Quran, Hazrat Ibn ‘Abb ā s ra , was once asked about this chastisement in the following narration 20 : I # a I : 5 ء a S 5 ل a S U V a ﻻ 0 # a I X 5 س : a ! 5 a ا + B ) ب a P L ) a ! X ) ح ؟ a S 5 ل a ا + ' = ا ك a و a ^ X C 4 a 3 B ) 0 C 5 a 0 4 That is, Hazrat ‘At ā asked Hazrat ‘Abb ā s, “What do the words ghaira mubarra ḥ mean?” He said, “Chastising them [that is, one’s wife] with misw ā k or