A questioner says that she is a married woman whose problem with her husband is that he does not perform the prayer in congregation and does some things that do not please Allah, Mighty and Majestic
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The questioner : The questioner says: A married woman whose problem with her husband is that he does not perform the prayer in congregation and does some things that do not please Allah, Mighty and Majestic. She says: I tried to advise him repeatedly and over and over, but he does not accept my advice. When I advise him, he says to me, “May Allah reward you with good,” and remains silent. I have found no change from him. The question is: Is it permissible to remain with such a husband? She says: I have been patient, hoping that he will return to Allah and that Allah will open his heart, but I have found no result. I have children and I do not want these children to be lost. Am I sinful if I remain with him in this state, even though I constantly call upon Allah for his reform and guidance? May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : As long as the man has not done what makes him a disbeliever, it is better that she remains with him and advises him, in order to protect the small children who are with them. However, if he does not pray at all, then it is obligatory for her to flee from him as one flees from a lion. It is obligatory for the ruler, if it is established with him that this man does not pray at all, to separate them. This is because the one who does not pray is a disbeliever whose disbelief takes him out of the religion, and it is not permissible for him to remain with a believing woman. If someone says: This necessitates that we separate many husbands and their wives, we say: This is not necessary, because we say to the husband: Return to Allah, repent to Allah, submit to Islam, and pray. If you do that, then the wife is your wife. If he refuses except to leave the prayer, then he is the one who caused this embarrassment for himself. The obligatory thing is to follow the Shari'ah, whether one is pleased or one is angry.
In summary, as long as this husband whom the woman described has not abandoned the prayer completely, she remains with him and advises him, perhaps Allah will guide him. However, if he does not pray, then it is obligatory to separate them in any case, unless he returns to Islam through prayer.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge.
The Shaykh : As long as the man has not done what makes him a disbeliever, it is better that she remains with him and advises him, in order to protect the small children who are with them. However, if he does not pray at all, then it is obligatory for her to flee from him as one flees from a lion. It is obligatory for the ruler, if it is established with him that this man does not pray at all, to separate them. This is because the one who does not pray is a disbeliever whose disbelief takes him out of the religion, and it is not permissible for him to remain with a believing woman. If someone says: This necessitates that we separate many husbands and their wives, we say: This is not necessary, because we say to the husband: Return to Allah, repent to Allah, submit to Islam, and pray. If you do that, then the wife is your wife. If he refuses except to leave the prayer, then he is the one who caused this embarrassment for himself. The obligatory thing is to follow the Shari'ah, whether one is pleased or one is angry.
In summary, as long as this husband whom the woman described has not abandoned the prayer completely, she remains with him and advises him, perhaps Allah will guide him. However, if he does not pray, then it is obligatory to separate them in any case, unless he returns to Islam through prayer.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge.