The suggestion that the verse says ‘lightly’ hit them, is a lie. The online translations with the word lightly, notice the world is done in brackets – meaning added by the translators..
But is it fair to rely on Muslim sources to know how women lived before Islam? Of course they will claim women had it harder before Islam. But we do know something about women’s rights BEFORE ISLAM from the story of Khadijah, Muhammad’s first wife.
Khadijah was an independent business woman, she was the richest of Quraishi tribes, she had the largest convoy of camel who traded with Palestine and Syria, had married two men before Muhammad, she choose her own husbands, in fact she choose Muhammad who was HER OWN EMPLOYEE! She did not need a guardian, no. But Muhammad did require a guardian for himself to marry her!!!
Muhammad never dared to marry on her while she was alive. What Muhammad did after he took control? Women to stay at home, cover from head to toe, not allowed to engage in business on their own, have to ask male guardian to get married… Demolition of Women’s rights. But we need to buy the story that the pagans of Arabia buried baby girls alive… We, in Islam, bury them for life….Hamdullah.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadija_bint_Khuwaylid
So, anyone who tells you Islam is feminist, just run by them these verses and see them squirm:
The Qur’an in Surah 4:34 says:
….. Those from whom you fear arrogance, admonish them and desert them in the bed and beat them. Then, if they obey you, do not look for any way against them. Allah is High, Great.
A husband has sex with his wife, as a plow goes into a field.
The Qur’an in Surah 2:223 says:
Women are your planting place (for children); come then to your planting place as you please and forward (good deeds) for your souls, and fear Allah. And know that you shall meet Him. Give glad tidings to the believers.
Slave-girls are sexual property for their male owners.
The Qur’an in Surah 4:24 says:
And (forbidden to you) are married women, except those whom your righthand owns (slaves). Such Allah has written for you…