مفهوم ﴿‌وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ﴾ في كتب التفسير دراسة مقارِنة

The concept of “wa aḍْribūhun ” in the interpretation books, a comparative study

Abstract

This article discusses comparatively the meaning of ‌wa aḍْribūhun in the light of different commentaries of the Holy Qur’an. Family relations have gained great importance in the Holy Qur’an, and Surat An-Nisa includes several legal objectives in which the purpose of building the family on foundations that guarantee each of its parties full and undiminished rights is demonstrated. Among the verses included in the surah is the verse on guardianship, which this research aims to address a specific issue that ancient and modern commentators have dealt with in this verse. It is the issue of wife-beating, by studying the sayings of sixty early and late commentators, with their different approaches and diverse trends, and comparing their sayings, to arrive at a conclusion from which we can derive the wise Qur’anic vision that we should not deviate from in managing family affairs in times of problems and when there are crises. The research suggests that the disciplinary punishment mentioned in the verse is in a hierarchical order, with mild and non-harsh hitting being preferable to resorting to divorce, since it would destroy the family's entire existence. Moreover, the intention behind it is disciplining, so if most likely it will never be achieved by ‘hitting’ then it should not be used, and the husband should rethink before resorting to it. That is why some exegetes warned that women’s situations differ, hence the difference in ways of disciplining.