Additional Interpretations of Qur’an 4.34
There are many opinions about the meaning and importance of Qur’an 4:34. These links represent, but do not exhaust, the spectrum of views to be found within the Muslim community. Their inclusion here does not, of course, constitute an endorsement of any particular views expressed.
http://www.muhajabah.com/marriagedynamics.htm
Essay by a Muslim woman who argues that Q. 4:34 refers to a balance of power in marriage, where women have a primary responsibility for childbearing and rearing and men have both the responsibility of support and the right of leadership. Has links to additional sites.
http://www.themodernreligion.com/women/dv-4-34-shafaat.html
Essay by Ahmed Shafaat, first published in Al-Ummah, Montreal, Canada in 1984. Presents a generally conservative view, though with some original arguments.
http://www.yuksel.org/e/religion/unorthodox.htm
Essay by Edip Yuksel, Turkish translator of the Qur’an, who argues that the conventional understanding of Q. 4:34 is wrong, and that daraba (the verb usually translated as beat) means to “strike them out” – to divorce them.
http://pub1.ezboard.com/flahoreahmadiyyamessageboardarchive.showMessage?topicID=27.topic
A series of thoughtful posts from a number of men to a message board. Addresses the issue of the controversial translation of Q. 4:34 by Ahmed Ali.
http://www.abc.se/~m9783/fiqhi/fiqha_e32.html
From the Living Islam page, this page in the Question and Answer format gives numerous examples from Prophetic tradition (hadith) about whether it is permissible to strike one’s wife, and also addresses linguistic issues in interpreting Q. 4:34 .
http://www.crescentlife.com/thisthat/does_the_quran_sanction_the_beating_of_women.htm
“Does The Quran Sanction The Beating of Women?” by Mohammed Abdul Malek. Argues that the word usually translated as “beat” means “separate” in the context of Q. 4:34.
http://bismikaallahuma.org/Quran/Commentary/q4-34.htm
Short essay by Shibli Zaman with references to traditional sources, framed as a refutation of anti-Islamic polemic.
Scholarly Discussions of Qur'anic Exegesis and Q.4:34
The links below provide a nuanced discussion of Qur’an 4:34 within the broader framework of its scriptural and interpretive contexts. This trio together helps to make sense of the political and theological issues associated with reading and understanding the Qur’an. Their inclusion here does not, of course, constitute an endorsement of any particular views expressed.
http://theothervoices.org.za/Religionsa/jotafs.htm
“EXEGETICAL VIOLENCE: NUSHUZ IN QUR'ANIC GENDER IDEOLOGY” by Sa'diyya Shaikh. Deals with the issue of patriarchal interpretation of the Qur’an through the example of 4:34.
http://www.faridesack.com/Presentations/p_5.asp
“WHAT DO MEN OWE TO WOMEN? SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF PREJUDICE: REFLECTIONS OF A MUSLIM,” by Farid Esack. Challenging to conventional Muslim feminist discourse that absolves the Qur’anic text of any blame for its patriarchal interpretation.
http://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/abarlas/papers/macalester.htm
“MUSLIM WOMEN & SEXUAL OPPRESSION: READING LIBERATION FROM THE QURAN,” by Asma Barlas. She argues, and provides evidence for her claim, that “Quranic epistemology is inherently antipatriarchal.”
Updated 1/31/03
Kecia Ali