Beating any one is not allowed in Islam and there is a criminal penalty ( Diyyah) on the person who commits it which depends on the effect on the body of the victim.

The Hadeeths explain the meaning of the Quranic verse as beating with Miswak ( tooth stick) which is physical beating but an act of warning or showing unhappiness when a wife insists on harming her husband or children. 

Hadeeths blame those men who beat their wives and mention that many of them are more entitled to be beaten rather than to beat their wives.

The Prophet ( SAWA) said : Best of you are the best to their wives, and I am the best to my wives.

Wassalam.