Ruling on marrying a woman who abandons prayer

The second question in the letter of the brother (F. R. 'A.) from the Republic of Yemen, in which he says: Is it permissible for a Muslim to marry a girl who does not pray? He states that he lives in a land where most of its people do not pray, and that he is compelled to marry out of fear of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). He will condition the girl's family that she performs prayer during the marriage contract, and if she does not pray, he will divorce her. What is the ruling in this matter?
Answer: Abandoning prayer by men and women is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. Accordingly, it is not permissible for a Muslim to marry a woman who does not pray. Rather, it is obligatory for him to be careful in choosing a wife who possesses religion, who is among those who pray, and who respect religion and do not do anything except in accordance with it. This is what is obligatory upon the Muslim. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is agreed upon as authentic.
The believer should be careful in choosing a wife who is good in her religion, morals, and conduct, and who comes from a good family. If she does not pray, this is among the greatest disbelief in Allah according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. Some among the scholars of knowledge have differed on this and said: Abandoning prayer is not major shirk if the man does not deny its obligation and the woman does not deny its obligation, but rather it is due to laziness. This is the opinion of a group of scholars of knowledge, and it is attributed to the majority.
However, the correct opinion, which is supported by the evidence of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), is that abandoning prayer is major shirk, even if the one who abandons it does not deny its obligation. This is because it was established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: So if something abandons its pillar and its pillar is gone, how can it remain?
Also, it was established from him (peace and blessings be upon him), and this is more explicit in this chapter, his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. The expression "the man" does not restrict the ruling to him, following the method of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in rulings. When he expresses a legal ruling using the name of a man or the name of a woman, the ruling is general. Likewise, what comes in the Book of Allah regarding rulings using the names of men or the names of women, the ruling is general, except where evidence comes to specify it, such as specifying the woman with half the inheritance of the male among children and brothers, and other matters where specification has come. Otherwise, the original principle is that they are equal in rulings, and this is one of them.
So if the man becomes a disbeliever by abandoning prayer, the woman is likewise, even if it is due to negligence and laziness. This is the correct opinion.
From this chapter, it was also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: It was narrated by Imam Ahmad in the Musnad and by the people of the four Sunan with an authentic chain from Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him), and this is general for men and women.
So my advice to the asking man is that he should not marry except a woman known for uprightness and prayer, and for staying away from everything that angers Allah (Mighty and Majestic), even if he remains a bachelor until Allah makes it easy for him to find someone whose religion he is pleased with. A woman from the People of the Book is better than this; because Allah has permitted the marriage of a woman from the People of the Book if she is chaste. As for the mushrikah (one who associates partners with Allah), she is forbidden to us, as Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [al-Baqarah:221]. This is called a mushrikah, so a woman from the People of the Book is better than her. However, abandoning the marriage of a woman from the People of the Book is more preferable and better in every case, and that he should marry a Muslim woman who is Hanifi (pure in faith) and a believer. This is what he should do.
But in any case, if it is absolutely necessary, marrying a chaste woman from the People of the Book is better than marrying a woman who does not pray, who is a disbeliever. Yes.
But it is possible to condition her prayer and repentance before the contract. If she becomes upright and Allah guides her and she repents, and it is established for him that she has abandoned her bad deed and turned to Allah and started praying, then let him marry her, and praise be to Allah.
Perhaps her desire for marriage will be a cause for her repentance and return to Allah, and her uprightness in prayer, so that he has done well to her with this marriage which Allah made a cause for her repentance, uprightness, and performance of prayer.