A man has been praying for ten years, but his wife does not pray. Is he entitled to boycott her, and what should he do with her regarding prayer, given that he has already advised her several times?
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The questioner : He says that he has been praying for approximately ten years, and his wife has not prayed. Is it permissible for me to boycott her? Please advise us on what I should do with her regarding prayer, knowing that I have advised her several times. I ask for advice and guidance in my question. May you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : The advice here is directed to both the questioner and his wife. As for the advice directed to the questioner, we say: It is obligatory for him to discipline his wife and compel her to pray. If she refuses, let him divorce her, because if she does not pray, she is a disbeliever in a disbelief that takes her out of the religion, a disbelief of apostasy. It is not permissible for him to remain with her as his wife, due to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, regarding the believing emigrant women:[Al-Mumtahanah 60:10] And due to His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:221] This is with regard to the husband.
As for the wife, I direct advice to her to fear Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and to be afraid of Him, and to return to her religion from which she strayed, if she never prays, because abandoning prayer is a disbelief that takes one out of the religion, due to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, regarding the polytheists:[At-Tawbah 9:11] And due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) And his saying: Sahih Muslim 82b So she should fear her Lord and return to her religion from which she strayed, so that she may remain with her husband and live with him a happy life. We ask Allah for guidance for us and for her.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you. The listener, A.A.K., from the North, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, says.
The Shaykh : The advice here is directed to both the questioner and his wife. As for the advice directed to the questioner, we say: It is obligatory for him to discipline his wife and compel her to pray. If she refuses, let him divorce her, because if she does not pray, she is a disbeliever in a disbelief that takes her out of the religion, a disbelief of apostasy. It is not permissible for him to remain with her as his wife, due to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, regarding the believing emigrant women:
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 لَهُنَّAnd do not marry polytheistic women until they believe
وَلا تَنكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّAs for the wife, I direct advice to her to fear Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and to be afraid of Him, and to return to her religion from which she strayed, if she never prays, because abandoning prayer is a disbelief that takes one out of the religion, due to the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, regarding the polytheists:
But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.
فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَءاتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَنُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَThe 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 كفرBetween man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat.
بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاةThe questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you. The listener, A.A.K., from the North, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, says.