Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: Some men asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for permission to hit women (i.e., their wives), so the Prophet (peace be upon him) granted them permission. Those people beat their wives. During the night, the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard loud voices. He inquired: What is the reason for this? People informed him: You gave men permission to beat women, so those men beat the women (because of which the women started crying and this is the sound). So the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade the men from this and he (peace be upon him) said: "The best among you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best among you to my wives."