Hi

[leo-rcc]

Sura 4 34

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
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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.

Now I have no doubt that you will pull the old semantics and/or improper translation defence. The fact of the matter is that it is in the Quran (and I have the Dutch edition here and it says the same) and it also a fact that while some Imams try to distance themselves from the verse by trying to jerk the verse completely out of context, there are a lot of Imams that embrace that verse fully and advocate wife beatings because of it.

Even if you were to say that it is not the intention to make women a little less inferior than live stock, then your beloved leader shouldn't have put those lines in the book to begin with and avoid confusion. If the Quran is the inerrant word of Allah, it should be unambiguous.