Canadian Book Store Sells Out Of Muslim Wife Beating Marriage Manual

Indian Sunni Muslim scholar Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi died in 1943, but his book about wife-beating is still as popular as ever. His 160-page marriage manual, "A Gift for Muslim Couple" (published by India's Idara Impex) sold out, of all places, at local Toronto book store.  The booklet discusses the best ways to deal with a wife including beatings, restraint, threats and domination:

In the book’s opening pages, it is written that “it might be necessary to restrain her with strength or even to threaten her.”

Later, its author advises that “the husband should treat the wife with kindness and love, even if she tends to be stupid and slow sometimes.”

Page 45 contains the rights of the husband, which include his wife’s inability to leave “his house without his permission,” and that his wife must “fulfil his desires” and “not allow herself to be untidy ... but should beautify herself for him ... ”

In terms of physical punishment, the book advises that a husband may scold her, “beat by hand or stick,” withhold money from her or “pull (her) by the ears,” but should “refrain from beating her excessively.”

According to the Toronto Sun, the owner Shamim Ahmad refused to comment, and all the manager of the store said was that the book was sold out. There was no mention of whether it would be restocked, but apparently it's available online at Islamic book stores and on Ebay, although I checked and it isn't currently for sale. The book is actually listed on Amazon.com, though also unavailable. Nothing on Barnes and Noble.

It was discovered at the bookstore in question by Eric Brazau, whose curiosity got the better of him.

Brazau bought it out of curiosity but was taken aback when he found dozens of chapters and passages giving Muslim husbands advice on controlling, restraining, scolding and beating their wives.

“At first, I thought that it is incredible that this kind of thing can be found in Canada,” said Brazau. “And then I thought, radical Islam is not coming to Canada, it is already here.”

But there are some Muslims who are equally outraged. Moderate Tarek Fatah said of the book: 


And believes the owner should be held accountable.

But sold out in Canada?  I wonder how many bookstores in the U.S. carry it?!

“I wouldn’t say it’s hate, but it is inciting men to hit women,” said Fatah, who identified the book’s author as a prominent Islamic scholar. “This is new to you, but the Muslim community knows that this is widespread, that a woman can be beaten. Muslim leaders will deny this, but... ”