Is Domestic Violence Islamic?

By Ruby Dutton-Moore, New Age Islam 17 September 2024 Highlighting Misconceptions and Barriers to Speaking Out in Australia’s Muslim Communities ----- The gendered issue of domestic violence within Australia poses immediate threat to women across the country. By exercising control and employing manipulation techniques, men force women into silence and limit them from speaking about the danger that they are in. This threat to the safety of a women is further solidified within the Islamic community due to the added layers of religious justification, cultural stigma, fear of ostracism, religious misconceptions, and family pressures. Sumaya, a domestic abuse survivor, experienced this increased pressure throughout her marriage by being told that she was at fault for her husband’s abuse, from her family, community, and religious leaders. “I was told that it was my fault for not dressing up enough for him, for not cooking well enough, for talking back to him, and so much more. I was told that I needed to suck it up or else no one would want to marry my children in the future. They said to take the abuse so I could get into heaven.” This fear of speaking up on cases of domestic violence is shown in the in the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights report which highlights the lack of clear data on the number of domestic violence victims within Australia in the Islamic community. Across Australia, it is reported by the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violencesummary that 1 in 6 women will experience some form of gender-based violence. This highlights the size of the issue. Yet the need for cultural sensitivity exists in the case of domestic violence perpetrated within the confines of Muslim households, as it is a much more sensitive and nuanced topic that many Muslim women do not report on, due to the fear of ostracisation. By looking at the religious justification for domestic violence within Islam, and the experiences of women coming out of harmful marriages, we will build a picture of why it is essential for us to shape solutions for Muslim domestic abuse victims in Australia. We will also establish why it is of the utmost importance that we continue to uplift the voices of those willing to speak up on the topic of domestic violence and that Muslim women should not endure violence under the justification of Islam, as domestic violence is not an Islamic practice. Religious Justification of Domestic Violence: Much of the religious justification for domestic violence comes from a specific Quranic verse 4:34: “Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.” Ayesha S. Chaudhrywho is the Assistant Professor of Islamic and Gender Studies at the University of British Columbia, argues that the interpretation of this verse reflects the perspective that a Muslim will have when reading further Quranic verses. By reading this verse through an egalitarian lens, you can place the context of the verse into the seventh-century Arabian society that is not so relevant to contemporary values, or by reading it through a patriarchal lens this verse highlights a husband’s divine right to dominate over a woman when married. The conceptual markers that can be highlighted through the patriarchal reading of verse 4:34 sees the husband as Qiwarma, a protector and maintainerof his woman. This interpretation gives men ontological superiority over a woman, due to the perceived natural hierarchy that men have as a conductor between God and a woman’s faith. This provides a man with a religious authority and authorization to dictate the actions of a woman, and to punish her if she disobeys him. However, progressive Islamic scholars such as Nada Ibrahim, the Senior Research Fellow in Domestic and Family Violence at the University of South Australia claims that this verse is widely misunderstood within Australia and the Islamic community. Nada goes on to argue the English translation of this verse provides space for incorrect interpretations especially surrounding the translation of the word: Wadribuhunna, which she claims does not explicitly mean to beat your wife. Translations can range from meaning "beat them" to "strike them” but can also mean "separate" and "go away" from them. Sheikh Alaa El Zokmsown perspective on verse 4:34 sees the message in the broader context of Quranic teachings, which highlight justice and peace. “The verse is a three-step process for addressing a wife's arrogance, or disrespect, toward her husband: couples should first discuss their concerns, separate from the marital bed and, finally, walk away or separate from one another.” This interpretation also signifies the difference in translation of verse 4:34 impacting on the overall understanding of the meaning of the verse. Sheikh Alaa also highlighted the importance of talking about the significance of verse 4:34 as many conservative Muslims will use this verse to justify abusing their partners. He mentioned an instance of a woman fearing marriage “because her husband might interpret verse 34 of chapter four in the Quran as some other men did: as a licence to treat his wife badly and perhaps, if she disobeyed him, beat her up.” Even with the range of interpretations of verse 4:34, there exists unmistakable evidence within the Quran of equality between men and women. Verse 33:35 and verse 9:71 highlight how Muslim men and women are equal under Allah and are both held to the same standards to uphold Islamic values of kindness, faith and charity. It must be argued that there exists a tension between core Islamic values and the patriarchal interpretations that claim there is religious justification for gender inequality within Islam. Barriers to Speaking Up: Fatima, a Melbourne based Muslim, explains the divergent advice that she received from Imams when she was experiencing domestic abuse. When Fatima approached local Imams to ask if beating a wife is Islamic, she was told that it was allowed in cases of infidelity while another Imam told her that it should just be used as a symbolic gesture that should not leave a mark on the woman. Eventually Fatima learned that her husband’s actions were not explicitly condoned in Islam due to the multiple interpretations of verse 4:34 of which he had been using to justify hitting her, “for years I took it literally, I believed he had the right, that I deserved it." Across Australia many Imams advise women to stay in unsafe marriages and figure out their differences, as was Shakila’s experience: “I went to imam in the mosque he just advised me to go back to my husband.” Beyond this religious justification, there also exists a range of barriers to Australian Muslim women from reporting their abusive husbands’ behaviour as outlined by Nada Ibrahim in a report on the Experiences of Abused Muslim Women With the Australian Criminal Justice System, which includes fear, embarrassment, concern over losing their children, unclear knowledge on the law, not wanting others to know due to community ostracism, isolation, financial dependence and racist responses. This mixture of reasons, in conjuncture with the common misconception that wife beating is explicitly Islamic has caused many Muslim women to remain silent and stay in unsafe marriages. Furthermore, Australian Muslim women also face unique challenges such as immigration laws, which Amal, a Syrian immigrant outlines: “He was telling me that both my daughter and he is Australian, not me, and my visa will have finished in some time. If I leave or divorce, he will take my daughter and I go to my country. So many things were in my head. I have to shut my mouth and continue my life because of this.” This is why it is important to understand the intersectionality of being Islamic, Australian and a survivor of domestic abuse. By breaking down as many barriers in place for Muslim women in Australia to spread information, this enables women to have access to resources, to not feel trapped and have a sense of agency. Another unique challenge for survivors of domestic abuse in Australian Islamic communities is the divorce process. Much like other parts of the Islamic world, in order for a woman to gain an Islamic divorce they need to appeal to a board of Imamsto convince them that the abuse they are suffering is a means for divorce. The Australian Government defines domestic abuse as a broader issue than just physical violence, citing controlling behaviour, intimate partner sexual assault, emotional abuse, financial abuse, stalking and using technology to track and control a partner, as all different forms of domestic violence. However, it is not so widely acceptedwithin the Islamic community that these forms of domestic abuse are recognised, causing further barriers to women who are trying to leave harmful relationships. Instead, Imams are telling women to go back to their husbands and continue trying to reconcile their differences. Islamic not-for-profit organisations such as The Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights and Muslim Women Australiaare the frontline in the fight for the rights of Muslim women in Australia by spreading information and providing refuge to Muslim women in need. Statements from Australian Muslim women who have spoken up against domestic violence have been fortunate enough to have found these organisations and have been able to leave their abusers and step into an advocacy role. However, in these cases the abuse usually reached a climax of violence to the point that the woman knew staying was not an option. So, it remains crucial that Imams such as Sheikh Alaa El Zokms continues to educate Islamic communities through teaching egalitarian and progressive interpretations of the Quran, to spread information through Australian Islamic communities. It also is incredibly important that supportive systems are widely available to women who need support. By highlighting the complex barriers faced by Muslim women in Australia who experience domestic violence, and the different interpretations of Islamic texts, we can see why domestic violence continues to be a substantial obstacle to Islamic communities. The cultural stigma, family pressures, and fears of ostracism silence women from speaking out as evidenced by the stories of survivors like Amal and Fatima. The religious misconceptions and patriarchal community dynamics perpetuate the cycle of abuse. However, progressive Islamic scholars, organisations and leaders are working to reframe these harmful narratives, offering hope for change. The importance of addressing domestic violence within Australian Islamic communities cannot be overstated. Muslim women face unique challenges, and without culturally sensitive interventions and education, many remain trapped in abusive situations. It is time for religious leaders and communities to act. We must foster open dialogue, support progressive Islamic interpretations, and provide accessible resources that empower women to seek help. We should also encourage survivors to come forward, helping to build an environment where women are not silenced by fear or cultural expectations. As we continue to confront this issue, we must ask ourselves: is domestic violence an Islamic practice, or has it been unjustly justified through misinterpretation of religious text causing an epidemic of inexcusable violence? ----- Ruby Dutton-Moore is currently studying a Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations, doing her second major in Islamic studies at Griffith University. Ruby is passionate about women’s rights and believes that spreading information about intersectionality can help women in a diverse set of environments. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/debating-islam/domestic-violence-islamic/d/133218 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism