Title: Beating Wives Question/Comments: I was under the impression that the term "beating" in the Qur’an refers to only a light tap with the husband’s forefinger only. It is not intended to hurt the wife but merely to act as a psychological warning to enforce the fact that she has done something wrong. It is more psychological than physical. Is this view correct? Also I asked this question to a shiek and he told me a story from the Qur’an about one of the prophets who swore he would beat his wife 100 times but when he started to beat her God stopped him and told him to take 100 small sticks, bind them together and tap her once (because he had SWORN he would beat her). Is this story correct and who was the prophet the shiek was talking about? This clearly proves God does not allow domestic violence in any circumstance. Nadia Ketelsen Answer: I do not agree with the cited explanation of the word 'beating', as used in the Qur'an. In the related verse, the Arabic word "ضرب" , is used in almost exactly the same implication as the English word "beating", and like its English counterpart the Arabic word cannot be interpreted to refer "only" to "a light tap with the husband's forefinger". As for the explanation given by the respected Sheik, I do not consider his explanation Saad 38: 44 to be correct. For my interpretation of the referred verse, please take a look at one of my earlier responses to a related question . Regards, Moiz Amjad March 16, 2002