Sûrah An-nisâ; 34

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم . بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم “الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُواْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّهُ وَاللاَّتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلاَ تَبْغُواْ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلاً إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا” .
Sûrah An-nisâ; 34

Men are caretakers of women, since Allah has made some of them excel the others, and because of the wealth they have spent. So, the righteous women are obedient, (and) guard (the property and honor of their husbands) in (their) absence with the protection given by Allah. As for women of whom you fear rebellion, convince them, and leave them apart in beds, and beat them. ¹ Then, if they obey you, do not seek a way against them. Surely, Allah is the Highest, the Greatest.

1) These are three stages suggested for correcting the behavior of one’s wife.
When an earlier stage is sufficient, it is not allowed to resort to the next one.
Particularly, the Holy Prophet (صلی الله علیه وسلم) has given clear directions about the third stage, (i.e. beating) that it should be the last resort in a very extreme situation.
In a number of ahâdīth, he has condemned the practice of beating women. He is reported to have said, ‘‘Good people among you would never beat women.’’ (Rûh-ul-Ma‘ânī, from Baihâqī and Ibn sa‘d) No prophet has ever beaten a women.
Even in an extreme situation where the Holy Qur’ân has allowed beating, the Holy Prophet (صلی الله علیه وسلم) has, in its explanation, prohibited slapping on the face or any act that may leave a mark on the body.

The Noble Qura’n
Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani