Is a wife obliged to obey a husband who does not respect her and insults her, and is it permissible for a woman to defend herself when he abuses and curses her?

A wife must obey her husband in what is right, and his ill-treatment of her does not justify her disobedience to him. If the husband assaults her by striking her, she is permitted to defend herself. If he insults her, she is permitted to respond in kind, though patience is better. If the wife is harmed by staying with him, she may refer the matter to the Sharia judge to restrain him from harming her, or to order him to divorce her. Good companionship must prevail between the spouses.