Hey. I was reading through your "wife beating in Islam" section. And i thought i would provide some extra resources if you would like to add them to the page. Theres alot but here we go:
Wife beating is prohibited in Islam
The question has arose is Wife Beating allowed in Islam? Lets take a look:
Firstly I would like to note that it is prohibited to lie in Islam. Everything presented here is to the best of my knowledge and Allah knows Best:
"Oh you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds.)" (Quran 9:119)
Allah's Messenger (sallalahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:"There are four signs of a hypocrite; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; when he is trusted, he betrays his trust; and when he quarrels, he abuses." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim, narrated by Abu Huraira]
Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6307:
'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “Truth leads one to Paradise and virtue leads one to Paradise and the person tells the truth until he is recorded as truthful, and lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell, and the person tells a lie until he is recorded as a liar.”
Now let me address the issue:
Many times in the Hadith's and Qur'an we are told about restraining our anger:
Allah Almighty loves those who restrain anger: "Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good.” (The Noble Quran, 3:134)
Narrated Abu Huraira: "Allah's Apostle(SAW) said, 'The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab), Volume 8, Book 73, Number 135)
Narrated Abu Huraira: "A man said to the Prophet , 'Advise me! 'The Prophet said, 'Do not become angry and furious.' The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet said in each case, 'Do not become angry and furious.” (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab), Volume 8, Book 73, Number 137)"
Abu Hurairah related that the Messenger of Allah(sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the person who contains himself when he is angry." [Al-Bukhari; Book 47, No. 47.3.12]
Abu Huraira reported: "I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: One is not strong because of one's wrestling skillfully. They said: Allah's Messenger, then who is strong? He said: He who controls his anger when he is in a fit of rage.” (Translation of Sahih Muslim, The Book of Virtue, Good Manners and Joining of the Ties of Relationship (Kitab Al-Birr was-Salat-I-wa'l-Adab), Book 032, Number 6314)
That we should always respond to a bad act with a good act and to behave well with people:
On the authority of Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junadah, and Abu 'Abd-ir-Rahman Mu'adh bin Jabal (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said : “Have Taqwa (Fear) of Allah wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards the people.”[Tirmidhi]
So as we can see Muslims are told to restrain there anger and to respond to a bad action with a good deed.
Muslims are taught to love and help each other:
Sahih Muslim Book 32, Number 6258:
Nu'man b. Bashir reported:
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever. “
Sahih Bukhari,Volume 8, Book 73, Number 40:
Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir:
Allah's Apostle said, "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among
themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so
that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness
(insomnia) and fever with it."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 67:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
The Prophet said, "None will have the sweetness (delight) of Faith till he loves a person
and loves him only for Allah's sake”
The Prophet (sallalahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character." [Al-Bukhari]
It is also important to point out that oppression is prohibited in Islam:
Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6246
Narrated Abu Dharr:
Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said:
“O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another.
O My servants, all of you are astray except for those I have guided, so seek guidance of Me and I shall guide you.
O My servants, all of you are hungry except for those I have fed, so seek food of Me and I shall feed you.
O My servants, all of you are naked except for those I have clothed, so seek clothing of Me and I shall clothe you.
O My servants, you sin by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness of Me and I shall forgive you.
O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and you will not attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me.
O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to become as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything.
O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything.
O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the
jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decreases the sea if put into it.
O My servants, it is but your deeds that I reckon up for you and then recompense you for, so let him who finds good praise Allah, and let him who finds other than that blame no one but himself.” Sa’id said that when Abu Idris narrated this hadith he knelt upon his knees.”
Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6248:
Jabir b. Abdullah reported:
that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: “Be on your guard against committing oppression, for oppression is a darkness on the Day of Resurrection, and be on your guard against pettimindedness for pettimindedness destroyed those who were before you, as it incited them to shed blood and make lawful what was unlawful for them.”
Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6251:
Abu Huraira reported:
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “Do you know who is poor? They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: A poor man amongst us is one who has neither dirham with him nor wealth. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The poor of my Umma would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers and fasts and Zakat but (he would find himself bankrupt on that day as he would have exhausted his funds of virtues) since he hurled abuses upon others, brought calumny against others and unlawfully consumed the wealth of others and shed the blood of others and beat others, and his virtues would be credited to the account of one (who suffered at his hand). And if his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then his sins would be entered in (his account) and he would be thrown in the Hell-Fire.”
Also there is an underlying theme that is the basis of the Islamic Shariah:
Ibn Majah, Al-Daraqutni and Others:
It was related on the authority of Abu Sa'id Sa'd bin Malik bin Sinan al-Khudri (radiyallahu 'anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said:
"There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2, Number 12 [also in Muslim (45), Ahmad (3/176), at-Tirmidhi (5215), Ibn Majah (66), an-Nasa'i (8/115), and Ibn Hibban (234)]:
Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "None of you [truly] until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself."
As I have displayed Muslim's are told to restrain there anger, respond to bad acts with good acts. That they should be kind and love there fellow brothers and sisters. And more importantly that oppression is not allowed in Islam. I have also demonstrated that the underlying theme found within the Shariah is that there should be no harming nor reciprocating of harm. And a beautiful message from the Prophet (PBUH) that no one truly believes unless he loves for his brother as he loves for himself. This demonstrates that Muslims should be kind loving people who do not show anger and only do good. That they do not oppress others. And above all not to beat people. These sources demonstrate enough that wife beating is prohibited in Islam but I will delve deeper providing unequivocal proof that wife beating is prohibited. Now I will directly address 'wife beating' providing clear evidences that it is haram in Islam.
Verses from the Quran condoning wife beating:
The Qur'an is the primary source of the Islamic Shariah(Laws on how Muslims should live there lives). The Quran describes the relationship between the two spouses in the followering verse:
“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.” (Surah 30:21)
Here we learn that the relationship between the two spouses is one of love and mercy and tranquillity and peace.
Lets see what it says about treating Wives:
"....Do not retain them(i.e., your wives) to harm them..." ( Surah 2:231)
"And among God's signs is this: He created for you mates from amongst yourselves (males as mates for females and vice versa) that you might find tranquillity and peace in them. And he has put love and kindness among you. Herein surely are signs for those who reflect.” (The Noble Quran 30:21)
"...women of purity for men of purity. These are not affected by what people say. For them is forgiveness and an honorable provision.” (The Noble Quran 24:26)
"on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good." (Surah 4:19)
These verses clearly state that you should treat your wives with kindness and equity. That you cannot harm them.
"If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." (Surah 4:128)
This verse states that if a women fears cruelty then the spouses should try and sort it out between themselves. Then in Surah 4:130 its says if its doesn’t work out divorce is OK:
“But if they disagree (and must part), Allah will provide abundance for all from His all-reaching bounty: for Allah is He that careth for all and is Wise.” (Surah 4:130)
So if a women is not treated with kindness and is treated with cruelty they can get a divorce. The Qur'an clearly legislates that if a man beats his wife they can request a divorce.
As clearly shown from the Qur'an wife beating in Islam is haram. I could close the case on this now but I will prove further that Wife Beating is prohibited in Islam.
Verses from the Hadiths condoning wife beating:
The second source for the Islamic Shariah is the Sunnah of the prophet which is derived from Hadiths:
Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number 2138 [Graded hasan sahih by sheik al-abani]:
Narrated Mu'awiyah ibn Haydah: “I said: Apostle of Allah, how should we approach our wives and how should we leave them? He replied: Approach your tilth when or how you will, give her (your wife) food when you take food, clothe when you clothe yourself, do not revile her face, and do not beat her.”
Abu Dawud, Book 11, Number 2139 [Graded Sahih by sheik al-abani]:
Narrated Mu'awiyah al-Qushayri: “I went to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) and asked him: What do you say (command) about our wives? He replied: Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them.”
Here the prophet states that when asked how should we treat our wives? He replied feed them, cloth them, do not beat them, and be kind to them(do not revile them). Wife Beating is 100% refuted here.
Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 68:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Zam'a: The Prophet forbade laughing at a person who passes wind, and said, "How does anyone of you beat his wife as he beats the stallion camel and then he may embrace (sleep with) her?"
Here the prophet questions how people can beat there wives as they beat there camels. Showing a disgust towards wife beating.
Muslim, Book 009, Number 3526:
Fatima bint Qais reported that her husband divorced her with three, pronouncements and Allah's Messenger made no provision for her lodging and maintenance allowance. She (further said): Allah's Messenger said to me: When your period of 'Idda is over, inform me. So I informed him. (By that time) Mu'awiya, Abu Jahm and Usama b. Zaid had given her the proposal of marriage. Allah's Messenger said: So far as Mu'awiya is concerned, he is a poor man without any property. So far as Abu Jahm is concerned, he is a great beater of women, but Usama b. Zaid. she pointed with her hand (that she did not approve of the idea of marrying) Usama. But Allah's Messenger said: Obedience to Allah and obedience to His Messenger is better for thee. She said: So I married him, and I became an object of envy.
Muslim, Book 009, Number 3527:
Fatima bint Qais reported: My husband Abu 'Amr b. Hafs b. al-Mughira sent 'Ayyish b. Abu Rabi'a to me with a divorce, and he also sent through him five si's of dates and five si's of barley. I said: Is there no maintenance allowance for me but only this, and I cannot even spend my 'Idda period in your house? He said: No. She said: I dressed myself and came to Allah's Messenger. He said: How many pronouncements of divorce have been made for you? I said: Three. He said what he ('Ayyish b. Abu Rabi'a) had stated was true. There is no maintenance allowance for you. Spend 'Idda period in the house of your cousin, Ibn Umm Maktum. He is blind and you can put off your garment in his presence. And when you have spent your Idda period, you inform me. She said: Mu'awiya and Abu'l-Jahm were among those who had given me the proposal of marriage. Thereupon Allah's Apostle said: Mu'awiya is destitute and in poor condition and Abu'l-Jahm is very harsh with women (or he beats women), you should take Usama b. Zaid (as your husband).
In these two hadith's a women has recently got divorced and seeks a new husband. She has two candidates and asks the prophet for advice. One is poor and the other a "Wife beater". He tells her to marry another person. NOT the wife beater. Showing a negative viewpoint on wife beaters.
The prophet never beat or hit any of his wives. And as he is an example for Muslims we should follow the example he set of treating women kindly and not beating them or harming them.
Aaishah (Radhiallahu 'Anha) said: "Allaah's Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) never hit anything with his hand ever, except when fighting in the path of Allaah. Nor did he ever hit a servant or a woman." [Recorded by Ibn Maajah. Al-Albaanee graded it Saheeh.]
Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah said, "The Messenger of Allah never struck a servant of his with his hand, nor did he ever hit a woman. He never hit anything with his hand, except for when he was fighting Jihad in the cause of Allah. And he was never given the option between two things except that the most beloved of the two to him was the easiest of them, as long as it did not involve sin. If it did involve sin, then he stayed farther away from sin than any of the people. He would not avenge himself concerning anything that was done to him, except if the limits of Allah were transgressed. Then, in that case he would avenge for the sake of Allah.''
As Muslims we have to follow the example of the prophet (who never beat his wives!)
"You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example for him who hopes in Allah and the Last Day and who remember Allah much"(Surah Ahzab [33:21])
Abu Hurayra stated, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character. The best of you are those who are the best to their women.'" [at-Tirmidhi]
Hadith quoted in Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Ulum-Id-Din, Marriage section:
“The most perfect of believers in faith are those who are the finest in manners and most gentle toward their wives.”
“He is the most perfect Muslim whose disposition is best; and the best of you are they who behave best to their wives”
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes something in her character, he should be pleased with some other  or another trait of hers." [Muslim]
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Treat women well. Woman was created from a rib. The most crooked part of the rib is the top part. If you try to straighten it, you will break it. If you leave it, it remains crooked. So treat women well." [Dont know source??]
“O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. ” the Prophet said in his last sermon. (Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1623, 1626, 636, Muslim: 98, Tirmidhi: 1628, 2046, 2085, Ahmed: 19774 )
Prophet Muhammad said : “The rights of women are sacred. See that women are maintained in the rights assigned to them”
Prophet Muhammad said : “Whoever doeth good to girls, it will be a curtain to him from hell-fire”
Prophet Muhammad said : “God enjoins you to treat women well, for they are your mothers, daughters, aunts.”
Finally this hadith condones anyone who beats people:
Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6251:
Abu Huraira reported:
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do you know who is poor? They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: A poor man amongst us is one who has neither dirham with him nor wealth. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The poor of my Umma would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers and fasts and Zakat but (he would find himself bankrupt on that day as he would have exhausted his funds of virtues) since he hurled abuses upon others, brought calumny against others and unlawfully consumed the wealth of others and shed the blood of others and beat others, and his virtues would be credited to the account of one (who suffered at his hand). And if his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then his sins would be entered in (his account) and he would be thrown in the Hell-Fire.
The list of Hadiths like these goes on and on. As I have shown from the Hadiths of the Prophet(PBUH) that wife beating is prohibited and condoned. That we should treat women and wives with kindness and love. Both the Qur'an and the Hadith's unequivocally prohibit beating women and wives. The Qur'an and the Hadith's prohibit treating women or wives unkindly and unjustly.
As I have demonstrated Wife beating Is Haram(Prohibited) in Islam.
*****************************************************************************
Also i would like to mention the hadith you quoted from sunan Abu dawud book 11 hadith number 2142 "Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife. " It had been graded daif weak by sheik al-abani.
