None of you should flog his wife

Narrated `Abdullah ibn Zam`a:

The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ) said, "None of you should flog his wife as he flogs a slave and then have sexual intercourse with her in the last part of the day."

Another narration of this Hadith in Sahih Muslim reads " None of you should flog his wife as he flogs his female slave ". The slave is like an item to be sold. Therefore, one shall not hit his wife as he hits the slaves.

The Arabs used to beat the male and female slaves either for their vanity, or because the slaves were sloppy in their work.

The flogging mentioned in this Hadith refers to beating in general; with any tool.

This prohibition in the Hadeeth does not require the prohibition of beating at all, but rather proves it, yet it prohibits the severe beating. This is because the woman in her husband`s house is like the female slave in some aspects. Naturally, the woman is submissive and dependant on her husband. But the man has a degree of guardianship and care for her religious and secular affairs; this is why Allah enjoined the wife to obey him unless this leads to the disobedience of Allah the Almighty.

It is taken from this commandment in addition to what we have said that the ideal man does not even think to beat his wife except when it is impossible to reconcile. The Prophet ( may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not ever beat any of his wives. It must be clear that if a man is allowed to beat his wife, then he shall do it under certain regulations.