To what extent may a husband guide his wife, and is he permitted to use force against her?

Allah has commanded that wives be treated with kindness, even if they are disliked, for there may be much good in their dislike. Mercy and gentleness are among the characteristics of believers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was described as compassionate and merciful. Gentleness adorns everything and removes fault from any matter. Allah commanded Moses and Aaron to speak gently to Pharaoh, for Islam is a tolerant religion based on kindness, compassion, and gentleness, and one's wife is the most deserving of this. The husband's guidance to his wife must be with mercy and gentleness. If the wife insists on violating the rights of Allah or her husband and becomes defiant (nashiz), then he may deal with her according to what Allah has legislated: admonition, abandonment in bed, and non-injurious striking. Her right to financial support (nafaqah) and other rights are then forfeited. If what she is doing is a manifest evil and the husband can change it by force without great harm or major corruption, then he should do so, such as obliging her to wear the prescribed hijab. As for small and trivial matters, they should be overlooked for the sake of maintaining a stable family life.