Does Qur'an Allow Husbands to Beat Up Wives? (3)

Question:
You are absolutely right that the difference of perspective and emotional sensibilities play an important role in understanding a text. If I forward your below explanations to a non-muslim, he/she will conclude that Islam is just regulating the norm of wife-bashing.

Thank you so much for you prompt response on my emails.

Response:
The prompt reply you get is because in certain matters there is rush of blood that causes one to leave aside everything else and focus on what has challenged one's 'integrity'.

I guess I will tell the non-Muslim that understanding Islam through the particular verse of Nisa would be as unfair as trying to appreciate Western culture by looking at some of those aspects of it which repel our eastern mindset. One should look at a message in its totality, from the point of view of its basic claims (beliefs).

That wouldn't mean that I would be shying away from the topic. I would still try to help the non-Muslim know that the tiny minority of women who have been required to be treated in a peculiar manner in al-Nisa need to be treated that way or else Islamic society would also become more like a Western one, with family unit in shambles. Moreover, the mention of 'regulating beating up of wives' is something I would fight with my non-Muslim friend to clarify that the comment was unfair. I will tell my non-Muslim friend that his/her comment suggests that he/she didn't make any attempt to understand my point of view at all. I would demand from him an explanation as to how the verse could be honestly considered to be 'regulating beating up of wives'.

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