Is it permissible to break off an engagement to a religious girl if it becomes known that her parents do not pray and her father smokes?
Abandoning prayer is one of the gravest sins. One who abandons it while denying its obligation is, by consensus, a disbeliever. If abandoned due to laziness, the majority of scholars consider him not a disbeliever, contrary to the Hanbalis. Smoking is forbidden. If the aforementioned girl is of good character and religious devotion, her engagement should not be annulled, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "So win the one who is religious, may your hands be dusted with earth." The fact that her parents abandon prayer does not prevent marriage to her, as Allah Almighty says: "And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another." If you do annul the engagement, you will not be sinful for it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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