Is it permissible for a father to demand that his daughter be divorced from her husband after the marriage contract, due to his discovery that she does not pray, even though he previously affirmed that she does pray?
If the sister neglects prayer out of complacency and laziness, this is a grave sin, and she must be advised and warned of God's punishment. The man did well by asking about her prayers before marriage, as Islamic law encourages marriage to a woman of faith. The father bears no sin if he said she prays based on his assumption. Her abandonment of prayer does not affect the validity of the marriage as long as she left it out of complacency and laziness, for the majority of scholars do not consider one who abandons prayer out of laziness to be an unbeliever. She is now this man's wife, and the decision to divorce her or keep her rests with him. His father has no right to control her marriage. If she does not repent and pray, he should be advised to divorce her, for there is no good in keeping someone like her under his marital authority. Divorce is recommended when the wife neglects her obligatory duties towards God, such as prayer.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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