Does the condition of separation between spouses, if the wife converts to Islam and the husband does not, hinder people's acceptance of Islam, especially in non-Islamic societies that lack knowledge of Islam? And is it better to allow them to remain married to preserve their Islam, compared to the risk of them remaining in disbelief and entering Hell eternally?

If a disbelieving wife embraces Islam before her husband, then: If this occurs before consummation, the separation takes place immediately. If it occurs after consummation, the separation is suspended until the 'iddah (waiting period) expires. If the husband embraces Islam before the 'iddah expires, she remains his wife. If her 'iddah expires and he has not embraced Islam, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, or she can wait for him; if he then embraces Islam, she remains his wife without the need for a new marriage contract. This is the view preferred by Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, who based their argument on the hadith of Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi' and Safwan ibn Umayyah.

It is not permissible for a woman, immediately upon embracing Islam, to allow her disbelieving husband to approach her; rather, she must veil herself from him. This ruling has been a cause for many husbands to embrace Islam. If a Muslim woman willingly cohabits with her disbelieving husband, she is committing zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), and if she considers that permissible, she is a disbeliever. This religion is preserved, and there is no room for altering its rulings. It is not permissible for a Muslim woman to remain under a disbeliever.