Perhaps a better title for the new book “A Gift For Muslim Couple” would be “A Gift For Misogynist Muslim Men.” Let us consider some reports and whether it is incumbent upon faithful, orthodox, Muslim men to be misogynist by Allah’s decrees within the Qur’an itself.
What is the fracas about anyhow? The book, published by Idara Impex in New Delhi, India, was written by Maulavi Ashraf Ali Thanvi who is described in the book’s foreword as a “prolific writer on almost every topic of Islamic learning.”
The book, billed as “the perfect wedding gift,” is “an Islamic marriage guide offering tips on ear-pulling and slapping” which notes that “a husband shouldn’t beat his wife too hard, but pulling her ears and hitting her with a hand or a stick is all right for discipline. The book also offers tips on how to confine a wife to the home and withhold cash if she acts up”:
…it might be necessary to restrain her with strength or even to threaten her…the husband should treat the wife with kindness and love, even if she tends to be stupid and slow sometimes.
Moreover, the wife ought to “beautify herself” and “fulfill his desires.” In turn “if she disobeys, a husband may ‘restrain her with strength or threaten her.’”
Note that it is reported that Tarek Fatah, whom every report is assured to note is a “moderate” Muslim academic stated that anyone selling it should be prosecuted. However, he specifically stated:
“I wouldn’t say it’s hate, but it is inciting men to hit women,” said Fatah, who identified the book’s author as a prominent Islamic scholar. “This is new to you, but the Muslim community knows that this is widespread, that a woman can be beaten. Muslim leaders will deny this, but… ” [emphasis added ellipses in original]
The Canadian shop, Islamic Books and Souvenirs, who carry the book also have Ibn Taymyah’s “Fatwas of Muslim Women” which elucidates “the best way to circumcise a woman and explains which babies a woman is allowed to breastfeed.”
In the essay, Islam / Muslim: Muhammad and Jesus, part 4 of 10 which is the segment titled, “Regarding Wives” you will learn quite a bit about this issue including that the very reason that this is new, that the Muslim community knows that this is widespread, that a woman can be beaten and why a “moderate” Muslim academinc finds it necessary to state, “I wouldn’t say it’s hate” is because these concepts are derived directly from the Qur’an itself.
Consider as an example, the relevant portions of Surah 4 quoted from eight different translations:
Abdulah Yusuf Ali, “As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly).”
N. J. Dawood, “Good women are obedient…As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.”
Arthur J. Arberry, “But when they are in wedlock, if they commit indecency, they shall be liable to half the chastisement of freewomen.”
George Sale, “But those, whose perverseness ye shall be apprehensive of, rebuke and remove them into separate apartments, and chastise them.”
M. H. Shakir, “the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.”
Rashad Khalifa, “The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is GOD’s commandment, and honor their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may (as a last alternative) beat them.”
Marmaduke W. Pickthall, “good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them.”
E. H. Palmer, “virtuous women, devoted, careful (in their husbands’) absence, as God has cared for them. But those whose perverseness ye fear, admonish them and remove them into bedchambers and beat them.”
In order to take this issue on “moderate” Muslims and secularists will have to strike at the very heart of Islam: the Qur’an itself.
In the meantime, Christians can note that the Bible’s teachings on women and wives is vastly different. As per the Bible both men and women were created in God’s image, in the Bible there are women prophetesses, judges, landowners, teachers, women who own their own businesses, husband are told to love their wives and on it goes.
For details, quotations and citations see:
Also, do not miss considering David Wood’s article, Answering Muslims: Islamic Bookstore Sells out of Violently Misogynistic “A Gift for the Muslim Couple”