What is the ruling when a husband denies severe beating in the absence of witnesses, and is the wife entitled to seek an oath to obtain a divorce due to the harm she has suffered and her fear for herself, and how should one deal with the husband's claim that she accused him of disbelief and adultery and that he did not beat her severely?

The Lawgiver did not permit the husband to beat his wife severely. Rather, He permitted him to strike her a disciplinary, non-severe blow in the case of her rebellion (nushuz), after admonition and boycotting. The intention behind it is discipline, not revenge, and refraining from it is better, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "The best of you will not strike." The husband is not allowed to carry out the punishment for slander (qadhf), and the wronged wife may refer her case to the judge.