The husband's position regarding a wife who insists on shaking hands with men

Question : The questioner is a Yemeni resident in Saudi Arabia. He says in this question that he is a young man, twenty-seven years old, and married. He says he has two daughters, and the problem, Honorable Shaykh, is that I am a committed person, and I praise Allah for that and thank Him, but I have a wife who is indifferent to religion. She shakes hands with non-mahram men on the pretext that they are relatives, and I have failed to advise her. So direct us, Honorable Shaykh, what should I do? Should I divorce her, and what is to be done in this matter? May you be rewarded.

Answer : It is obligatory for you to prevent this wife from shaking hands with non-mahram men to the extent of your ability, even if that means preventing men from entering her presence. You should call her to Allah the Exalted with wisdom, giving her tapes or booklets that explain the ruling on this issue, and perhaps Allah will guide her, Glorified and Exalted is He. For the hearts are between the two fingers of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and He turns them as He wills. Do not despair of her reformation. How many people were far from righteousness, and then Allah made them righteous, both men and women. Do not rush to divorce her.
First, because divorce should not be resorted to except when necessary. Second, because you have children from her; these children will be lost if you divorce her, until Allah wills. Be patient and wait, and use wisdom in calling her to Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and do not despair. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, Honorable Shaykh.