Are all of these people “misunderstanding” Qur’an 4:34 because they read American and European blogs and not the work of the HuffPo Tafsir Bureau? No.
The semantic gymnastics of apologists notwithstanding, at the end of the day, Qur’an 4:34 says what it says, and it says, in Arabic and in numerous translations made by sincere and devout Muslims, that men can beat women from whom they fear disobedience. And so Muslims clearly continue to apply Qur’an 4:34 according to what it says, and denial of what it says does nothing to stop the violence against so many women whose suffering the word games only serve to enable and prolong.
Even in Canada. “Book tells Muslim men how to beat and control their wives,” by Terry Davidson for the QMI Agency, March 23:
TORONTO – A local bookstore has “sold out” of a controversial marriage guide that advises Muslim men on how to beat their wives.
The 160-page book, published by Idara Impex in New Delhi, India, is written by Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi, who’s described in the book’s foreword as a “prolific writer on almost every topic of Islamic learning.”
The store’s manager, who didn’t give his name, said the book had been sold out for some time, and the store’s owner, whom the manager identified as Shamim Ahmad, refused to comment for the story.
It wasn’t clear whether the shop has ordered more copies of the book, but it’s available at online Islamic bookstores and even through eBay.
In the book’s opening pages, it is written that “it might be necessary to restrain her with strength or even to threaten her.”
Later, its author advises that “the husband should treat the wife with kindness and love, even if she tends to be stupid and slow sometimes.”
Page 45 contains the rights of the husband, which include his wife’s inability to leave “his house without his permission,” and that his wife must “fulfil his desires” and “not allow herself to be untidy … but should beautify herself for him … ”
In terms of physical punishment, the book advises that a husband may scold her, “beat by hand or stick,” withhold money from her or “pull (her) by the ears,” but should “refrain from beating her excessively.”…
Any beating is an excessive beating.
Eric Brazau says he was flipping through the marriage guide while in the bookstore around a month ago.
Brazau bought it out of curiosity but was taken aback when he found dozens of chapters and passages giving Muslim husbands advice on controlling, restraining, scolding and beating their wives.
“At first, I thought that it is incredible that this kind of thing can be found in Canada,” said Brazau. “And then I thought, radical Islam is not coming to Canada, it is already here.”