Correct Translation Of A Word وَ اضۡرِبُوۡہُنَّ ۚ In Surah Nisa
iDRiBuhunna needs to be carefully translated, as physically beating your wife does not align well with Quran’s perspective on relationship between man and woman which is defined by a relationship of mutual love and care (30:21). The verb DaRaBa is a multiple-meaning verb akin to English ‘strike’ or ‘get.’ The Quran uses the same verb with various meanings, such as, to travel, to get out (3:156; 4:101; 38:44; 73:20; 2:273), to strike (2:60; 7:160; 8:12; 20:77; 24:31; 26:63; 37:93; 47:4), to beat (8:50), to beat or regret (47:27), to set up (43:58; 57:13), to give (examples) (14:24; 16:75; 18:32; 24:35; 30:28; 36:78; 39:27; 43:17; 59:21; 66:10), to take away, to ignore (43:5), to condemn (2:61), to seal, to draw over (18:11), to cover (24:31), and to explain (13:17). Unfortunately, most translations translated as “scourge,” or “beat” or “beat (lightly)”, which is not appropriate. Interesting most scholars pick the meaning BEAT, among the many other alternatives, which indicates the perpetual influence of tribal and excessively patriarchal practices on the society, even to the extent of physical and domestic violence. Beating does not solve anything in a relationship, and neither can it force respect for a husband in anyway. It works the opposite. A more appropriate translation of DaRaBa here should be “separate them”, which has been preferred by Edip-Layth translation (Quran: A Reformist Translation), which is indeed a form of punishment. Separation generally serves as the last ultimatum before divorce, therefore, it makes most sense. For instance, Darabu fi al-Ard has been used by Quran to mean to go out in the land denoting being distant. Translating it as punishment is also okay as long as it doesn’t include beating.