A Qatari sociologist has caused outrage after posting an online tutorial appearing to instruct Muslim men on how to beat their wives.

Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khazraj uploaded the footage to the his Al-Mojtama YouTube channel which reportedly shows him teaching men to 'punish' their wives under Islamic law.

He is seen in the footage demonstrating techniques on a young boy as he tells the camera: 'Some people punch her or slap her on the face… That's not allowed.'

Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khazraj, a notable sociologist in Qatar, filmed himself appearing to instruct Muslim men how to beat their wives

'The Prophet Muhammad… Look how merciful Islam is. The Prophet forbade striking the face. He forbade men from beating their wives on the face.

'Slapping the face, hitting the head, punching the nose – all of this is prohibited. The beating is for discipline.'

Al-Ansari says in the short video that he believes the beating should be light and painless and it should make the woman 'feel her husband's strength'.

He demonstrates by slapping the child on his shoulders and shouting at him from nearby: 'I told you not to leave the house! How many times do I have to tell you?'

Al-Ansari then demonstrated how to beat a wife on Nayef by slapping him on the shoulders, grabbing him and shaking him, and saying loudly: 'I told you not to leave the house! How many times do I have to tell you?'

He said: 'Dear viewers, many people – especially people who are married – would like to know how to beat one's wife. Is beating your wife necessary? Must a man beat his wife every day? No.

Al-Ansari can be seen using a child to demonstrate his technique for beating women

The sociologist claims at one point that beatings should never injure women and hitting in the face is against Islamic law

'First, we must understand that the man is the leader of the house. A leader has authorities, just like a company manager.

'The leader of the house may decide to discipline the wife so life can move on.How does a husband beat his wife? He gives her a disciplinary beating out of love. He loves her.

'Now, let's see how Islam teaches how to beat your wife. Let's imagine that Nayef here… Nayef is obviously a boy, but let's imagine that he is the wife. How should a husband beat his wife?

'First, he must admonish her – in other words, he should advise her. Then, he should refrain from sharing a bed with her. If all of this doesn't help, we start the beating as a last resort.

'This is a painless beating that does not leave bruises or cause bleeding. The beating I just gave Nayef is the true gentle beating in Islam.'