SHAH ALAM - Men should stop using Islam or religion as an excuse to hit their wives as the Prophet was reported to have said in a hadith that those who strike their wives "are not the best among you (men)".
Sebarkan Bahagia Resources director Fatimah Syarha Mohd Nordin said this referred to those who 'liked' to hit women.
She said those who hit their wives without confirming and considering the situation should be reminded of verse 4:34 in the Quran.
"It is wrong for a husband to simply slap his wife merely after seeing her talk to another man, who for example is her relative.
"The Prophet himself expressed that he did not like those who hit women. So men must refrain themselves from doing so.
That should be the last option,” she said during the first edition of the Celik Al-Quran programme on Sunday.
She also shared the story about a master who came to the Prophet to ask how many times should he forgive his slave who has bad attitude and often lied to him.
The Prophet kept silent and after he was asked for the third time, he responded that the master should forgive his slave for 70 times.
"And this is between a master and his slave, so in a relationship between a husband and a wife, the husband should be more patient and willing to forgive the wife rather than hitting her,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ibrah Paradigm Training and Consulting chief executive officer Syaari Ab Rahman advised people not to look at the meaning of the verse from the Quran based on the perception of others.
"The verse means to strike the wife lightly, and this is not an act of cruelty as assumed by men nowadays.
"The best way to avoid this misunderstanding is to read the surah from the beginning to the end in order to have the right perception,” he said.
Also present during the programme was Dr Har Academy founder Prof Datuk Dr Harlina Halizah Siraj as the moderator.
The Celik Al-Quran programme entitled "Is it true that Islam allows a husband to beat the wife?" was organised by Dr Har Academy and Wanita Berdaya Selangor Sdn Bhd (WBS) in collaboration with Yayasan Warisan Ummah Ikhlas (WUIF) which was broadcasted live on Sinar Harian digital platforms on Sunday.
During the programme, discussions centred around verse 4:34 verse of the Quran which stated that men were in charge of women and that husbands may, among other things, hit their wives (lightly) if they fear disobedience.
The issues raised were that husbands often use the verse as an excuse to hit their wives as they like, and Islamophobics that spread the idea that Islam is a religion that allows violence through this verse.