What is the optimal course of action regarding a wife who does not observe prayer, nor does she adhere to her husband's repeated directives concerning interaction with men and wearing the niqab, in addition to her frequent remarks that suggest malice and dissatisfaction with the marriage, and what is incumbent upon the husband to do concerning all of this?

A wife must obey her husband in what is right and lawful, especially if he commands her to do something that is religiously obligatory upon her, such as prayer, for it is the greatest matter of religion after faith. She must also obey him in refraining from riding with a non-mahram man and not confronting him, for the protection of a woman and a husband's protective jealousy over her are obligatory. If the wife persists in neglecting prayer, divorcing her is preferable, because divorce in this case is recommended, and may even be obligatory.