There are also hadith that show companions used sticks and broke them during the "hitting" - so when Muslims say the hitting should be "Light" - that simply means it should not be be so harsh as to break bones, tear skin, or cause sever bruising. (Wow! Islam really improved the lot of women
)
Really? Will you be able to quote any of those? It would be helpful
(Tahtheeb al-athar, Tabari)
But bear in mind that any Muslim you quote this to will throw it back and say 'Ah, but it's not a hadith of the prophet and not from Bukhari or Muslim. Though of course if some Tom, Dick or Harry said something they like in some obscure book that no-one's heard of - then it will suddenly become acceptable evidence
You can always ask them why Mo didn't do anything about it if it was illegal to hit them that way. I stumbled across this hadith yesterday which is a pretty good one as it shows the man can beat his wife over the stupidest things-
Sunan Abu Dawud
Book 13, Number 2453:
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
A woman came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) while we were with him.
She said: Apostle of Allah, my husband, Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal, beats me when I pray, and makes me break my fast when I keep a fast, and he does not offer the dawn prayer until the sun rises.
He asked Safwan, who was present, about what she had said. He replied: Apostle of Allah, as for her statement "he beats me when I pray", she recites two surahs (during prayer) and I have prohibited her (to do so).
He (the Prophet) said: If one surah is recited (during prayer), that is sufficient for the people.
(Safwan continued:) As regards her saying "he makes me break my fast," she dotes on fasting; I am a young man, I cannot restrain myself.
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said on that day: A woman should not fast except with the permission of her husband.
(Safwan said:) As for her statement that I do not pray until the sun rises, we are a people belonging to a class, and that (our profession of supplying water) is already known about us. We do not awake until the sun rises. He said: When you awake, offer your prayer.
Topic: hi