What should I do with my wife who frequently disobeys me regarding the upbringing and education of our children, family relations, and aspects of our marital life, and who does not respond to my request to pray and read the Quran?

Happy homes are built on understanding, love, affection, and mercy, with both spouses fulfilling their duties. The wife is obliged to obey her husband, who exercises good guardianship by guiding her to what is good for her. Allah Almighty says: "Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth." The wife's obedience to her husband is a religious obligation, and his right is more emphasized than voluntary good deeds.

The husband must seek out the reasons for his wife's defiance (nushuz) and address them. The husband himself might be the cause due to his sins or bad character, or the cause might stem from her family or friends, or from the wife herself due to weakness in her faith. Defiance is treated by admonition, then by deserting her in bed, then by a non-violent beating. If she persists and does not respond, then the way is to divorce her with a single divorce, as Allah Almighty says: "As for those [wives] from whom you fear defiance, [first] advise them; then if they persist, forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [thereafter], seek no means against them."

If the wife does not pray, the above does not apply to her, because abandoning prayer is major disbelief, and it is not permissible for the husband to remain with her. He must remind her of the ruling on prayer and that abandoning it is disbelief and that the marriage contract might be annulled. If she responds, then praise be to Allah. If she does not respond, there is no good in her, and he must divorce her.