"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women" (An-Nisa: 34), meaning: they are granted authority over the discipline of women and to restrain them.
Qatadah said: It was mentioned to us that a man slapped his wife during the time of the Prophet of Allah. The woman came to the Prophet of Allah, and the Prophet of Allah intended to exact retribution from him, so Allah revealed: "Men are the protectors and maintainers..."
﴿الرِّجَال قوامون على النِّسَاء﴾ أَي: مسلطون على أدب النِّسَاء، وَالْأَخْذ على أَيْدِيهنَّ.
قَالَ قَتَادَة: ذكر [لنا] أَن رجلا لطم امْرَأَته على عهد نَبِيَّ الله، فَأَتَت الْمَرْأَة نَبِيَّ الله، فَأَرَادَ نَبِيَّ الله أَن يَقُصَّهَا مِنْهُ فَأنْزل الله: (الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ
