a person on the head. For example, if a man were to slap his son on the head. It is narrated that Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, struck a man on the head until he drew blood (1). This indicates that striking the head in cases other than a prescribed punishment is unobjectionable. In a prescribed punishment, however, the flogging is severe and harmful.

Thus, four things must be avoided when striking: the face, the head, the private parts, and the vital areas. Concerning the face, there is both textual evidence and an explanation; as for the rest, there are explanations.

“A woman is like a man in this regard, except that she is struck while seated, her garments are fastened around her, and her hands are held so that she does not become exposed, ...”

His statement, “A woman is like a man in this regard,” means that, with respect to carrying out the prescribed punishment, a woman is like a man. The basic principle is that whatever is established for men is established for women, and whatever is established for women is established for men, unless there is evidence to the contrary—whether in acts of worship, punishments, transactions, or customary matters.

If the evidence establishes that something is exclusive to men, then it is restricted to them; and if it establishes that it is exclusive to women, then it is restricted to them. Otherwise, the basic principle is equality. Accordingly, she is struck as a man is struck: with a whip that is neither new nor worn out; her head, face, private parts, and vital areas are not struck; nor is she beaten so excessively that the skin splits. However, she differs from him in one matter, namely his statement:

“Except that she is struck while seated, her garments are fastened around her, and her hands are held so that she does not become exposed”: three matters: