The Messenger of Al- lah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Do not beat Allah’s handmaidens [i.e. women]”, but when ‘Umar came to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: ‘Women have become emboldened towards their hus- bands.’ He (i.e. the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) gave per- mission to discipline them (within what is permitted Islamically). Then many women came round the family of the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, complaining against their husbands (that they beat them). So the Mes- senger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Many women have gone round Muhammad’s family complaining against their husbands. They [i.e. those who beat their wives] are not the best among you.”1