Her husband beats her severely
Question

                I am a 22 year old Muslim born female in in America

I have been married to my husband 

I married him because I thought that he was a good Muslim brother who cared about spreading ISlam and helping to raise the Kalimah of Allah -swt- by helping Muslims

I wanted to break off the marriage when we were still engaged about 4 years ago because he was saying mean things to me, hurting my feelings, and emotionally abusive.  

But he promised that after we got married he would be nice to me and that his harshness was the result of him having a bad job.
Since Muslims are supposed to keep their promises, I believed and trusted him, and agreed to marry him.

Since being married, he has gotten worse and has been physically abusive, even punching me and choking me.

My parents finally found out about 8 months ago.  I left him to my parents house at that time for a few weeks.  They convinced me that i should give him another chance because any other man i would marry would probably be even worse.  They say that all of the other divorced women end up with worse husbands and situations.

He came back apologizing and promising to change his ways of saying hurtful things, being picky, and to stop the abuse.  The agreemant was that I would go back to him to see if he really has changed.

After going back to him, he only changed for a short while.

He has been verbally and emotionally abusive.  He has been physically abusive to a small degree.  He has pushed me lightly and smacked me lightly.  
Since this is how his abuse started when we first got married from light to harder and harder, I decided a couple of months later that he has not changed and told my parents that.
Praise be to Allah.
    We ask Allaah to help you cope with the calamities that have 
    befallen you, and to grant you the reward of those who are patient, for He 
    is Most Generous, Most Kind. 

    The husband should realize that he is a shepherd and is 
    responsible for his flock. Allaah has enjoined upon him to treat them in a 
    good and proper manner and to treat his family kindly. Our Prophet  
    (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of you is the 
    one who is best towards his wife, and I am the best of you towards my 
    wives.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3895; Ibn Maajah, 1977; classed as saheeh 
    by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami, 3314). Part of that good and 
    kind treatment means not beating one’s wife in a severe manner and not 
    insukting or cursing her. He should realize that this is a violation of the 
    trust with which Allaah has entrusted him.  

    We have heard that many people have a hard time finding a job 
    by which they may earn their livelihood, and that it may take a long time to 
    find a suitable job. We have heard that many of these people oppress their 
    wives and beat them, as if they are the cause of what is happening to them. 
    It is as if they use this situation to justify their abhorrent actions. 
    These men have to fear Allaah and to realize that they are the ones who are 
    most in need of obeying Allaah and keeping away from haraam things; they 
    should not commit sins then justify that for themselves. 

    The Muslim has to realize that he is in the world of trials 
    and tests, so he must adorn himself with patience in bearing all the things 
    that happen to him in this life. He should turn to Allaah by praying to Him 
    to relieve him of the disasters that have befallen him, for He is the One 
    Who relieves worry and distress, and Who answers the prayer of the one who 
    has been wronged, may He be glorified and praised. Nothing is hidden from 
    Him and there is nothing that He is unable to do in the heavens or on earth, 
    to Him be praise in the beginning and at the end. 

    He is the most generous of those who are generous, and His 
    slave does not seek to draw close to Him but He is even swifter in drawing 
    close to His slave. Al-Bukhaari (6856) and Muslim (4832) narrated in their
    Saheehs that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The 
    Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah says: 
    ‘I am as My slave thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If 
    he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if 
    he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly 
    better than it. And if he draws near to Me a hand’s span, I draw near to him 
    an arm’s length; and if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to 
    him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at 
    speed.’” 

    In your case, my sister, Allaah is testing you by means of a 
    man whose behaviour and attitude are bad. Based on what has been mentioned 
    in the question, it is permissible for you to ask for a divorce (this is 
    what is called khula’), because living with this man and anyone like him is 
    something that is unbearable. Perhaps Allaah will compensate you with 
    someone better than this man. If you cannot find another husband, then 
    staying without a husband in your parents’ house, where you will be cared 
    for and respected, will be better for you than staying with this man, so 
    long as you do not fear that you will be tempted or will fall into haraam 
    things. But if you fear that you may be tempted, then being patient and 
    bearing worldly troubles by staying with this man will be better for you 
    than having to bear the punishment of Allaah.

     The reasons for which it is permissible for a woman to seek 
    divorce (khula’) from her husband are mentioned in Question 1859 on 
    this site.

     And Allaah knows best.