As if the rising rates of domestic violence in the Arab world weren't enough of a problem, we now have to deal with people who condone this form of abuse.
On Friday, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Ansari, a so-called Qatari preacher and social media personality known, posted a now-restricted YouTube video that teaches men "the right way to beat their wives."
In his "tutorial" the man claims there's an "Islamic way" to beat women without physically harming them. He goes on to demonstrate what he means on a little boy featured in the video.
"Before a husband beats his wife, he should advise her, then refuse to sleep with her and if all that doesn't work, then we resort to beatings," he said.
"What's a beating in Islam? A man must make his wife feel that he's strong by raising his voice. Then he can slap her around lightly... see very gently. This is what beating is like in Islam, it's not right how some people do it with shoves and hard slaps," he added.
In the first few seconds of the video, Al Ansari warns men against "regularly" beating their wives, suggesting it's OK as long as it doesn't become a habit.
He then goes on to tell men that they have the right to "discipline" their wives if she is "disobedient." All this under the pretext that the man is the leader of the house - because the patriarchy is alive and well.
To support his theory, the so-called preacher attempts to interpret several controversial Quranic verses taken from Surat Al Nisa'a, including this one:
"But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand."
However, according to several religious scholars, the verse doesn't justify violence against women. It also doesn't mean Islam commends it.
There are also several Quranic verses that state that a relationship between spouses must be "based on tranquillity, unconditional love, tenderness, protection, encouragement, peace, kindness, comfort, justice and mercy."
People started reporting the video
Al Ansari's flawed rhetoric left thousands of online users outraged. Many pointed out that the man has a history of publishing controversial and unacceptable content on YouTube and demanded his channel be banned.
At the time of writing, the footage remains online but has been restricted on YouTube.
"A tutorial from hell"
"This guy is mansplaining domestic abuse in the name of Islam"
"What is the world that we live in?"
"Just don't lay your hand on your wife, period"
Many called on YouTube to ban the video
Others questioned why Al Ansari's channel is still on the platform
Not the first "tutorial" of its kind
This isn't the first time a tutorial like this surfaces online.
In 2016, Saudi Arabia's national TV publicly aired a video featuring Khaled Al-Saqabaty, a man specialized in a form of therapy, as he teaches husbands the "right" way to beat their wives.
In 2017, the Australian branch of the radical Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir sparked controversy after sharing a video in which two women demonstrate how Muslim men can beat their wives. The women tried to interpret the same controversial Quranic verses used by Al Ansari.
At the time, the group was accused of promoting domestic violence and making light of the plight of abuse victims.