A marriage guide book for Muslim couples written by Maulavi Ashraf Ali Thanvi has sparked outrage by advising men on the best ways to beat their wives.
A Gift For Muslim Couple tells husbands that they should beat their wives with “hand or stick or pull her by the ears”.
But the book has faced a backlash from moderate Muslims who claim that it encourages domestic violence.
The 160-page book claims to be a “presentation for newlyweds” or couples who have been together for some years.
The book author, Maulavi Ashraf Ali Thanvi, is understood to be a prominent Islamic scholar.
The guide’s blurb says: “The book… deals with the subject of marriage and after marriage relationship, as well as the various pitfalls of marriage, causes of breakdown and their causes.”
It also claims to give “real life incidents” and advises on “different aspects of family life and how to run the institution of marriage successfully”.
But within the book’s opening pages it states that “it might be necessary to restrain her with strength or even to threaten her”.
It continues: “The husband should treat the wife with kindness and love, even if she tends to be stupid and slow sometimes.’”
The author then gives the “rights of the husband”. According to the book, these include his wife’s inability to leave “his house without his permission”.
The wife must then “fulfill his desires” and “not allow herself to be untidy … but should beautify herself for him”.
Worryingly, the book advises men that they should scold their wives. According to the book, they may also “beat by hand or stick, withhold money from her or pull (her) by the ears”.
However, it adds that men should “refrain from beating her excessively”.
The book came to light after going on sale in a Canadian book store. It is understood to have sold out there.
However, it is widely available from Islamic online book stores.
Canadian political campaigner Tarek Fatah said that the shop should be banned from stores.
“I wouldn’t say it’s hate, but it is inciting men to hit women,” Tarek Fatah told the Toronto Sun.
