If the husband does not pray and the wife prays, what is required of the one who prays toward the one who does not pray?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, if the husband does not pray and his wife prays, or vice versa, what is required of the one who prays toward the one who does not pray?
The Shaykh : If the husband never prays, neither in the mosque nor in his home, then the stronger opinion among the scholars is that he is a disbeliever whose disbelief takes him out of the religion. This is indicated by the Book, the Sunnah, and the statements of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them):
From the Book is the statement of Allah the Exalted regarding the polytheists:[At-Tawbah 9:11].
From the Sunnah is what is established in Sahih Muslim from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 82b. And in the Sunan, from the hadith of Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam).
As for the Companions, Abdullah ibn Shaqiq (may Allah have mercy on him), who was from the Tabi'un, said: "The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider any act of worship, the abandonment of which is disbelief, other than prayer."
Accordingly, it is obligatory to separate the husband who does not pray from his wife who prays, because a Muslim woman is not lawful for a disbeliever. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mumtahanah 60:10].
If the situation is the reverse, meaning the husband is the one who prays and the wife does not pray, the ruling is the same; that is, it is obligatory to separate them. This is because it is not permissible for a Muslim man to marry a disbelieving woman, except if she is a Jew or a Christian, in which case it is permissible for him to marry her. The one who does not pray is not a Jew or a Christian, but rather an apostate.
However, I hope to Allah that this does not happen. I hope to Allah that He will bestow guidance and return to Allah upon the one who abandons prayer, and that he will pray, so that things remain as they are and none of this separation occurs. This is especially so if there are children between them, for the matter is severe and not easy.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : If the husband never prays, neither in the mosque nor in his home, then the stronger opinion among the scholars is that he is a disbeliever whose disbelief takes him out of the religion. This is indicated by the Book, the Sunnah, and the statements of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them):
From the Book is the statement of Allah the Exalted regarding the polytheists:
But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then they are your brothers in religion
فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِFrom the Sunnah is what is established in Sahih Muslim from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Between man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat.
بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاةThe covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة فمن تركها فقد كفرAs for the Companions, Abdullah ibn Shaqiq (may Allah have mercy on him), who was from the Tabi'un, said: "The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider any act of worship, the abandonment of which is disbelief, other than prayer."
Accordingly, it is obligatory to separate the husband who does not pray from his wife who prays, because a Muslim woman is not lawful for a disbeliever. Allah the Exalted said:
And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them
فَإِنْ عَلِمْتُمُوهُنَّ مُؤْمِنَاتٍ فَلا تَرْجِعُوهُنَّ إِلَى الْكُفَّارِ لا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّIf the situation is the reverse, meaning the husband is the one who prays and the wife does not pray, the ruling is the same; that is, it is obligatory to separate them. This is because it is not permissible for a Muslim man to marry a disbelieving woman, except if she is a Jew or a Christian, in which case it is permissible for him to marry her. The one who does not pray is not a Jew or a Christian, but rather an apostate.
However, I hope to Allah that this does not happen. I hope to Allah that He will bestow guidance and return to Allah upon the one who abandons prayer, and that he will pray, so that things remain as they are and none of this separation occurs. This is especially so if there are children between them, for the matter is severe and not easy.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.