Where in my previous posts did I suggest that?
In your previous post you said that fundamentalism may not be a good thing because it eliminates those who don't believe. I would have to disagree with you on this point with regards to Islam. Under Islamic law freedom of religion is allowed, so this isn't eliminating people of other faiths. In fact when the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) started gainning some political power he would let the Christians, who were living under his political rule, use the mosque for their sunday service since they didn't have a proper church at the time.
This verse has been quoted at me a couple of times: O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).
Yes this verse is in the Qur'an and I believe it's 9: 123, however, we have to remember the context in which it is used. You see when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was around he was recieving a lot of resistence from people that didn't like what he has preaching. So naturally his followers had questions about what to do if they were attacked, or had to defend themselves. Now what we have to keep in mind is that chapter 8 in the Qur'an is in response to those questions that Muhammad's followers had. So the general context of chapter 8 has to do with rules for fighting and defending yourself. Now chapter 9, which is kinda like an extension of chapter 8, has to do with what the believers should do if enemies, that the believers have a treaty with, break their treaty. So chapter 9 is in response to the questions, from the believers, about what they should do if their enemies break a treaty with them. So all of the verses within this chapter, especially the ones about fighting, need to be taken within this context.
4.34.: 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 [women] from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart; and scourge [beat] them. Then, if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great.
That's from Pickthall's translation I think. The idea that men should scourge rebellious women hardly sounds like the pinacle of liberation.
I'm glad that you brought this verse up because it can be a confusing one. Well lets start at the beginning, it says that "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)." When it says that men are in charge of women it doesn't mean that the two of them aren't equal but rather that the man is appointed the head of the household and is responsible for supporting the family and making desicions. This doesn't mean that the women can't play a role in this but rather that they don't have to if they don't want to because it is automatically the mans responsibility to support the family, the wife doesn't have to lift a finger if she doesn't want to. However, the verse goes on to say that "So good women are the obedient" meaning that since the man is automatically given the responsibility of supporting the family a good rightious wife should listen to her husband and try and help him out. Then the verse says "As for those [women] from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart; and scourge [beat] them. Then, if they obey you, seek not a way against them." This is refering to women who would refuse to do something regarding religion, for example lets say that the wife wouldn't even try to do her five daily prayers even after the husband had asked her to and showed her his disaproval of it. If she still refused to do her prayers then the verse says that the husband should not sleep in the same bed as her to show her that he is upset with her actions. If the wife still refuses to change then the verse says that the husband is allowed to scourge the wife. Now in Islam we follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah, or the example set by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Anyway there is one example, I can't find the exact source at the moment but I will if you want me too, of one of the Prophets companions asking him about this exact verse and asking what he should beat his wife with if it gets to that point. When the Prophets companion asked him this he was brushing his teeth and the Prophet held up his tooth brush in reply to the question. So the whole point of this is that if the situation gets to the point where you can beat your wife, you should only use something small like a toothbrush or I heard one scholar say use a scarf, to show how upset you are with your wife and not actually cause her physical harm. The comentary that Abdullah Yusuf Ali offers in his translation of the Qur'an says "In case of family jars four steps are to be taken: 1. verbal admonition may be sufficient; 2. if not, sex relations may be suspended ; 3. if this is not sufficient, some slight physical correction may be administered ; but Imam Shafi considers this inadvisable, though permissible, and all authorities are unanimmous in deprecating any sort of cruelty, even of the nagging kind, as mentined in the next clause ; 4. if all this fails, a family council is recommended." I would just like to add that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was never known to have beaten any of his wives and was completely against it. I hope this helps to clear up and misunderstandings.
