““Divinely sanctioned wife-beating “There is no basis in Islamic theology to support domestic abuse of any kind,” declared Qanta A. Ahmed, author of In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctor’s Journey in the Saudi Kingdom, in May 2009.43 But it all depends on one’s definition of “abuse:” wife-beating exists in all cultures, but only in Islam does it enjoy divine sanction. The Koran tells men to beat their disobedient wives after first warning them and then sending them to sleep in separate beds (4:34)—a punishment that suggests the Koran regards women as sexually insatiable and needing to be kept under control. This is, of course, an extremely controversial verse, so it is worth noting how several translators render the key word here, waidriboohunna: Pickthall: “and scourge them” Yusuf Ali: “(and last) beat them (lightly)” Al-Hilali/Khan: “(and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful)” Shakir: “and beat them” Sher Ali: “and chastise them” Khalifa: “then you may (as a last alternative) beat them” Arberry: “and beat them” Rodwell: “and scourge them” Sale: “and chastise them” Asad: “then beat them” Dawood: “and beat them””
