Are Muslim Men Allowed to Beat Their Wives?

The booklet was published as part of the women's groups' campaign for a Domestic Violence Act in Malaysia to include Muslims. In question and answer form, it deals with such questions: Does Islam allow a husband to physically beat or mentally harass his wife?; What is regarded in Islam as cruelty towards a wife?; Verse All Nisa', 4:34 has been commonly used to justify wife beating. How can this verse be explained?; Can a husband beat his wife if she is nushuz?; Was Prophet Muhammad saw ever known to hit or be cruel to his wives?; Relatives and friends sometimes advise women who are being beaten by their husbands to be patient and pray for change. Do husbands usually change if women remain patient?