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Does Islam allow husbands to hit their wives?

Short answerIslam does not permit harming a wife. The verse most often cited is An-Nisa 4:34, which many scholars explain as a last, symbolic step that leaves no mark and causes no pain. The Prophet ﷺ never struck a woman and said, “The best of you are the best to their families.”

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The verse and the objection

Quran
ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُواْ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡۚ فَٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ قَٰنِتَٰتٌ حَٰفِظَٰتٞ لِّلۡغَيۡبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُۚ وَٱلَّٰتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهۡجُرُوهُنَّ فِي ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضۡرِبُوهُنَّۖ فَإِنۡ أَطَعۡنَكُمۡ فَلَا تَبۡغُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّ سَبِيلًاۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيّٗا كَبِيرٗا

Die Männer stehen in Verantwortung für die Frauen wegen dessen, womit Allah die einen von ihnen vor den anderen ausgezeichnet hat und weil sie von ihrem Besitz (für sie) ausgeben. Darum sind die rechtschaffenen Frauen (Allah) demütig ergeben und hüten das zu Verbergende, weil Allah (es) hütet. Und diejenigen, deren Widersetzlichkeit ihr befürchtet, - ermahnt sie, meidet sie im Ehebett und schlagt sie. Wenn sie euch aber gehorchen, dann sucht kein Mittel gegen sie. Allah ist Erhaben und Groß.

An-Nisa 4:34

Scholars explain that the verse sets out stages for handling discord: advice, then separation in bed. For the third, many interpreted it as something that does not hurt or leave a mark, such as a light touch with a tooth-stick, while others held it should not be resorted to at all. In his farewell sermon the Prophet ﷺ enjoined kindness to women. The verse regulates marital conflict and curbs excess; it is not a licence for violence.

The Prophet’s example

Hadith
مَا ضَرَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَيْئًا قَطُّ بِيَدِهِ، وَلَا امْرَأَةً وَلَا خَادِمًا، إِلَّا أَنْ يُجَاهِدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never struck anything with his hand, neither a woman nor a servant, except when fighting in the cause of Allah.

Aisha · Muslim
Hadith
خَيْرُكُمْ خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِهِ، وَأَنَا خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِي

The best of you are the best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.

The Prophet ﷺ · At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah; graded sound by al-Albani

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Is it permissible in Islam to beat one’s wife?

Harming her is not permissible. The verse is limited as scholars explain it, and the Prophet’s example forbids harm.

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