Islam forbids any kind of oppression or violence against women. The Noble Qur’an explains that women have rights over their husbands in much the same way as husbands have rights over their wives. To this effect, Allah, Exalted be He, says in the Noble Qur’an:

And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (Al-Baqarah 2:228)

Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered Muslim men to treat their wives kindly saying: The best of you are those who are the best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives. (Ibn Maaja)

Yet, there are many other questions about the treatment of women in Islam such as; are women inferior to men? How can we understand verse 34 of Surat An-Nisaa’? What about wife beating? Can a husband beat his wife? How did the Prophet (peace be upon him) deal with his wives? Did the Prophet ever beat them?

In the following video, Yusuf Estes answers these questions and more.