Originally posted by Nemesio
So, for all intents and purposes, the 'beating' is really symbolic and not literal, right? That is,
if no bruising, bleeding, or even pain is present, it's not actually a 'beating' in any literal sense.
If this is true, I am glad to hear that.
But this reading you offer, and the scholars who support it, are merely offering an interpretation, r ...[text shortened]... gue with someone who professes to be a Moslem, but (literally) beats his
wife?
Nemesio
So, for all intents and purposes, the 'beating' is really symbolic and not literal, right?
That is, if no bruising, bleeding, or even pain is present, it's not actually a 'beating' in any literal sense.
You can say that.
Just to make it clear, there is always a differnt use for Arabic words between the language use, and the Islamic use (We call 'Sharee'😉.
In other words, the same word may mean something in its usual use, but when it is related to law, or 'Sharea' it may mean somethign different. (I'm sorry if it is not clear, I just find it diffecult to find the correct words).
To give an example: Muslims pray five time a day. This prayer is a practice, not just words said to GOD. The Arabic word for prayer is 'Salat' which literaly supplication. But the same word is used to refere to the worship of prayer (the practive).
The same thing could be applied to the verse under question (Al Nessa 4:34). Yes the word used in this verse literaly means beating in the general meaning without any specification. So without the explaination of the prophet it could be any type of beating. But the prophet defined the Sharea meaning of the word in the verse. So a Muslim shouldn't use the literal meaning because it will contradict a direct teaching of the prophet.
I hope my language is clear.
But this reading you offer, and the scholars who support it, are merely offering an interpretation, right?
As I explained before, it will be an interpretation if the prophet didn't address the point. But as the prophet did address this point, and clarify what does it exactly means, then there is no place of interpretation. I mean if some give a different interpretation he will be mainly contradecting the prophet, and no muslim will accept that for himself.
I mean, it's patent that there are other Moslems who actually take this literally, right?
This will fail under two categories:
1- Ignorant who don't know realy what Islam teaches. And there are many of them. This person needs education and the problem will be solved. There was a period of time where Islamic studies was very restricted, and mainly culture was the source of the information for Muslims. So people grew up thinking that what their culture tells them is actully a teaching of Islam which is not true in many cases, including this issue.
2- Other sects that claim to be Muslims but have a different view of Suna (Hadith). And as the explaination of the beating is in Hadith, so if someone or some sect question the Hadith, then he/it can ignore the prophet teachings and stick the literal meaning. Example of these sects are the Shea of Iran. 90% of the population are Shea, and Shea refuses a lot of the Hadith accepted by the majority of Muslims (Shea are around 10% of Muslims population). So you will find the government of Iran and Shea of Iran have a different view of almost everything in Islam, so I consider it a different religion.
Another example are the sect that deny the Suna altogather. They only stick to Quran as the only source. So they of course will ignore the Hadith and take the literal meaning.
In either cases such behaviour of rejecting the Suna is not accepted by the Majority of Muslims, so what results from it can't be considered an Islamic behaviour. It only represents the point of view of the followers of that sect.
How do
you approach dialogue with someone who professes to be a Moslem, but (literally) beats his
wife?
Depending on his type of the previous two categories;
If he is from category 1, the solution is easy. Education. Some education will resolve the problem, and many Muslim scholars are working to correct this mainly culturer behaviour.
If he is from category 2, the problem is more serious. This person has a different faith system. He has to accept Islam first !!!