Dear Mr. Alsuezi:
With your permission, I looked at your posts on this board and other boards on Islam responding to a questions asked of you with regard to the following Verses in Quran (4:34). I have taken its full translation from the first link you have provided in your introduction post at iiasa.org . If you go to the aforementioned link (that you have provided and I am thankful to you for that), and click on the icon labeled The Holly Quran, it pops up a window that contains the entire translation of Quran. You can then click on the icon that says View by title, and then click on verse #4 (Women), and the from there you can go to 4:34: It says (and I have cut and pasted the text from that translation):
Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So 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. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.
I then went to Webster dictionary (on line) at webster.com and typed in the word Scourge to find its meaning, and it says the following:
Main Entry: scourge
Pronunciation: 'sk&rj also 'skOrj, 'skorj, 'skurj
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French escorge, from (assumed) Old French escorgier to whip, from Old French es- ex- + Latin corrigia whip
Date: 13th century
1 : WHIP; especially : one used to inflict pain or punishment
2 : an instrument of punishment or criticism
3 : a cause of widespread or great affliction
I then tried very hard to find a context in Quran in which this can be implied in order to avoid misinterpreting it out of context. Yet, I failed to find any meaningful context that can be referred to positively for interpretation purposes. I then read you comments on this particular verse, and you have implied the following:
1) The beating (or scourge is not meant to be harsh, and it is a rather mild punishment. I have 2 problems with this response:
a) Based on the translation (which is done by the very source you have provided) and what Webster has defined scourfe is rather meant to imply ”Harsh” beating punishment.
b) Why Quran does not provide the same right to women to inflict punishment on their husband? It seems Quran only addresses men, and not the women, and views them as objects to be controlled by the men.
2) You have also responded by stating that because men are the head of the households and are the providers, they have the right to be the judge as how their wife (or wives) behave under the Islamic laws. In other words, the aforementioned verse is to be used by men if – and only if their wife (or wives) do not follow and behave properly according to Islam. With all due respect I have the following problems with this response:
a) Why Quran thinks men are the better judge of how Islamic laws are to be followed than women? Why is it that men have the right to judge what the proper behavior is under Quran and Islam? Why is it that women can not judge their husband in the same manner ? It is as if Quran has given men the right to decide what the proper interpretation of verses and rules of Islam ought to be, and not the women.
Finally, it is claimed that Quran’s verses are meant to be for all ages and time till eternity. I can understand that 1400 years ago in the middle of Arabian desert women may not have had any rights and may have been treated like an animal, or a pet, and in effect Islam gave restored their rights and liberated them by such verses as the aforementioned verse. However, I fail to see how this particular verse can be viewed as something that can be applied till eternity arrives. I am sure you do agree that if any man for example in this country makes an attempt to follow this verse, he could be placed under arrest for wife abuse.
You may refer to the resources you have provided in your introduction post ( as I did) and see if you can succeed more than I did in finding a context and/or reason(s) to justify the verse. If you could elaborate and respond to the questions (point-by-point as expressed) I will be thankful beyond I can possibly express.
Sincerely,
Mr. Stevenson |
