Thus, the conditions are five:

First: the person being disciplined must deserve discipline.

Second: the person being disciplined must be amenable to discipline.

Third: the one administering the discipline must intend thereby to correct, not to take revenge for himself.

Fourth: he must have the authority to administer discipline, whether general or specific.

Fifth: he must not exceed the proper bounds. If he does so, he is liable, because he has committed an act of transgression. Allah Most High says concerning wives who are defiant: “Admonish them, forsake them in their beds, and strike them.” [al-Nisa: 34] The verse is unrestricted in wording, but the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, clarified that it is a strike that is not severe. (1)

His statement, “Even if the discipline is administered to a pregnant woman and she miscarries, the person disciplining her is liable”: A husband may, for example, discipline his wife if she is defiant, for Allah Most High says: “Admonish them, forsake them in their beds, and strike them.”

Likewise, a teacher may discipline a pregnant woman, because it is permissible for a male teacher to teach women. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to teach women. On one occasion, they came to him seeking admonition and said to him, “The men have taken all your time; so designate a day for us, on which you may teach us from what Allah has taught you.” He promised them at the home of one of them, came to them, peace and blessings be upon him, and admonished them. This is