Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade beating women. Later, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) came to him and said: ''Women have become emboldened towards and disobedient to their husbands.'' So the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) allowed beating women, not severely, in special cases like disobedience. Therefore, many women complained to the wives of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) complaining that their husbands beat them severely, thus abusing the Prophet's license. So the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that those men who were beating their wives severely were not the best of men. A reason for that judgment is that Allah, the Almighty, made beating the last resort in dealing with a woman's disobedience. He said: {...But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them} [Sūrat An-Nisā': 34]. These three penalties are not to be combined, but they should be used in order: first, admonition, and then forsaking in bed. If these do not work, then beating is allowed to discipline the wife, not to take revenge on her.