Resolution of Matrimonial Discord in the Qur'an: A Purposive Exegesis of the verses of Nushuz

Abstract

Purposive Exegesis (At-Tafsir al-Maqasidi) is the interpretation of the Qur'an based on its purposes. The purposes of the Qur'an which are embedded in it were variously inferred by Qur'anic scholars through the ages. Though distinct, the inferences are in no way contradictory. The application of these purposes as the basic framework for Qur'an exegesis has been employed by considerable number of early and modern exegetes, differing only in proportion and depth. This paper identifies the Qur'anic purposes for the family structure and uses them as its framework for interpreting the Qur'anic texts for resolving marital discord (nushuz) in matrimony. This method is adopted to reveal its relevance and to forestall its abuse by several modern writers; who succumb to alien modern ideologies and found it vital to challenge the Muslim exegetical traditions, as a necessary tool to prove their ideologies through different pretexts. The paper found that the Qur'an addresses nushuz as a matrimonial discord caused either by the husband or the wife and provided gradual mutual and disciplinary measures to curb it. This is in consistence with its objectives of ensuing sustainable love, happiness, cordiality, and righteousness in the family. The measures of admonishment, desertion in bed, beating, mutual reconciliation, family arbitration and ultimately divorce are consistent with the Qur'anic purposes of the family. They represent the preventive and curative measures of solving marital discord in the Qur'an. If these are religiously followed, discord shall be reduced to the barest minimum in the Muslim matrimony.