Is the marriage contract valid if the husband was not praying at the time of the contract, then repented and became observant of prayer?
One who abandons prayer is either someone who denies its obligation, in which case he is considered a disbeliever by scholarly consensus, and his marriage contract to a Muslim woman is invalid. Or he is someone who acknowledges its obligation but is too lazy to perform it. Such a person, according to the majority of scholars, is considered a transgressor (fasiq) and not a disbeliever, and his marriage contract to a Muslim woman is valid. Some scholars, however, have held that he is also a disbeliever. Based on the view of the majority, the marriage contract of one who abandons prayer due to laziness is considered valid, and he should frequently seek forgiveness, repent, and maintain his prayers.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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