The Ruling on Marrying One Who Does Not Pray and One Who Smokes
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A message was received by the program from Shuqra, sent by a listener from there, who referred to his name by saying: Abu Muslim. Our brother says: I have a daughter, and more than one person has proposed to her, but my problem is that among those who propose, one of these things is present. First: either he does not pray at all, or he is lax and is rarely seen in the mosque, or he smokes but prays, or he does not smoke but does not pray. I have been tired of people blaming me for not marrying off my daughter, and their argument is: that Allah will guide them after marriage. What do you see? Should I reject them, or should I marry them to clear my conscience? And which of these categories of people do you advise me to marry her to?
Answer: One who does not pray is not to be married, because abandoning the prayer is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), we ask Allah... in the most correct of the scholars' opinions. And even if he does not deny its obligation, the correct view is that the one who abandons it is a disbeliever; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam).
So the one who does not pray, or is not known to be in the mosques, should not be married, and it is not permissible to marry him to a Muslim woman.
As for the one who smokes, but he prays, then he is to be married. A sin does not prevent marriage, and that is better than leaving her unmarried and letting her time pass. And likewise, if he has another sin, such as being lax in some other matters that do not make him a disbeliever, like missing some of the congregational prayers, otherwise he is known to pray with the people and establish the prayer, but he may miss some of the congregation at times, or he is known for some other sins, such as shaving his beard or the like. This is if no one else is available, then there is no harm and do not let her remain unmarried. So the sin does not prevent marriage; rather, what prevents marriage is disbelief (kufr). As for the sin, it does not prevent it if the girl is pleased with that. And if the one free from sins is available, then that should be sought and striven for. Allah is the Helper.
The presenter: Allah is the Helper. May Allah reward you with good and benefit us with your knowledge.
Answer: One who does not pray is not to be married, because abandoning the prayer is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), we ask Allah... in the most correct of the scholars' opinions. And even if he does not deny its obligation, the correct view is that the one who abandons it is a disbeliever; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Between a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.
بين الرجل وبين الكفر والشرك 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 كفرSo the one who does not pray, or is not known to be in the mosques, should not be married, and it is not permissible to marry him to a Muslim woman.
As for the one who smokes, but he prays, then he is to be married. A sin does not prevent marriage, and that is better than leaving her unmarried and letting her time pass. And likewise, if he has another sin, such as being lax in some other matters that do not make him a disbeliever, like missing some of the congregational prayers, otherwise he is known to pray with the people and establish the prayer, but he may miss some of the congregation at times, or he is known for some other sins, such as shaving his beard or the like. This is if no one else is available, then there is no harm and do not let her remain unmarried. So the sin does not prevent marriage; rather, what prevents marriage is disbelief (kufr). As for the sin, it does not prevent it if the girl is pleased with that. And if the one free from sins is available, then that should be sought and striven for. Allah is the Helper.
The presenter: Allah is the Helper. May Allah reward you with good and benefit us with your knowledge.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.