Domestic Violence
The terms domestic violence and domestic abuse are often used
to refer to violence that occurs between intimate partners. Actually, both terms
refer to any violence or abuse that occurs within the domicile, or home. Today,
in order to better clarify who is involved in the violence, the preferred term is
intimate partner violence (IPV). This is because it can refer to current and former
marital partners as well as separated marital partners, or current and former cohabitates,
and is gender neutral.
Domestic Violence includes more than physical abuse. Violence between intimate partners
includes both physical and sexual abuse, as well as any threats of physical or sexual
abuse. IPV also includes psychological, emotional, verbal and economic abuse. All
are very damaging to the well-being of both the victim and the perpetrator, and
all constitute forms of oppression (dhulm) in Islam.
Domestic Violence in Islam
Muslims are not permitted to hit their spouses. Some have argued that verse 4:34,
the so-called “chastisement verse” may be interpreted as giving permission
to hit a wife if certain prior conditions are fulfilled. Others have said it means
to “tap lightly,” and some suggest it means to hit the wife with a miswaq
(toothbrush). But in the Qur’ānic paradigm, marriage is represented as a means
of tranquility, protection, encouragement, peace, kindness, comfort, justice, mercy,
and love (2:187 & 229-237; 4:19 & 25; 9:71; 30:21). For a thorough discussion
of 4:34, see Imam Abdullah Hasan’s
“The End to
Hitting Women: the Qur’anic concept of darb” In addition to
this excellent discussion, you can find a good collections of khutbas and talks
about Domestic Violence in Islam in our video section,
here.
We’ve also prepared a list of
publications about
the topic, and there are a large number of
blog entries
also on the site.
This section of the site explores the signs and symptoms of Intimate Partner Violence.
Find out:
Learn the signs and symptoms of abusive relationships and their impacts on everyone
close to such a relationship. Get inspired by the moving accounts of
survivors. Wake up; arm yourself with knowledge, and
Take Action.