Miswaq is not mentioned in the details of the verse. I’ve seen the mention of Miswaq before… It is not a tooth brush, it is a stick of wood that is used for cleaning one’s teeth. People all over the world use to use the same thing before modern tooth brushes were invented. One end of the stick is frayed like a ‘brush’. It is then used to scrape the teeth. We used them sometimes when I was a child.
*For those who do not know what a Miswaq tooth brush looks like… there is a photo of some. They are just short sticks.
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http://www.djibnet.com/photo/photo.php?id=407335100&k=qat
*The issue though is that the use of the world Miswaq can be used for several things… it is not only the tooth-cleaning-stick.
The word is also used to refer to the tree, or a branch of the tree… not just a small portion of the tree. The Miswaq ‘toothbrush’ is about as fat around as a man’s finger. Saying that a man should hit is wife a Miswaq could mean to use a switch from the tree that would otherwise be cut into smaller pieces for a ‘tooth-brush.”
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YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).
PICKTHAL: Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.
SHAKIR: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.