Is the Hadith “A man will not be asked as to why he beat his wife” authentic?

Question:

Is this Hadith authentic?

 لاَ يُسْأَلُ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَا ضَرَبَ امْرَأَتَهُ

Answer:

This Hadith is reported by Abu Dawud in his Sunan (Hadith 2147) with the wording:

حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَوْدِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُسْلِيِّ، عَنِ الأَشْعَثِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لاَ يُسْأَلُ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَا ضَرَبَ امْرَأَتَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Ibn Majah also reported it in his Sunan (Hadith 1986) with the wording:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُدْرِكٍ الطَّحَّانُ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَوْدِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُسْلِيِّ، عَنِ الأَشْعَثِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ ضِفْتُ عُمَرَ لَيْلَةً فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ قَامَ إِلَى امْرَأَتِهِ يَضْرِبُهَا فَحَجَزْتُ بَيْنَهُمَا فَلَمَّا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ قَالَ لِي يَا أَشْعَثُ احْفَظْ عَنِّي شَيْئًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ لاَ يُسْأَلُ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَ يَضْرِبُ امْرَأَتَهُ وَلاَ تَنَمْ إِلاَّ عَلَى وِتْرٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَنَسِيتُ الثَّالِثَةَ ‏.‏

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَالِدِ بْنِ خِدَاشٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏

The Hadith is weak due to the presence of Abdurrahman Al Musliyy who is unknown and only Dawud b. Abdillah al Awdi narrated from him.

Note: The meaning of the report is sound in the sense that a man may strike his wife for a matter that he is ashamed to mention. If the man’s piety towards Allah is known, and he strikes his wife, then he is not to be questioned.

As for the one who is of evil companionship, he is asked about why he struck his wife, because he does not have the piety towards Allah, the Exalted, that would prevent him from wronging her and striking her when she does not deserve to be struck.

And Allah knows best!