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Is it permissible for a husband to remain with a wife who does not pray and says, "I will pray," then feigns forgetfulness after a year and a half in this state?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

This woman is in grave danger for abandoning prayer. Her saying "I will pray" is of no benefit, and she must be compelled to pray. If she refuses, it is impermissible to keep her as your wife, due to Allah's saying: (and do not hold on to the bonds of disbelieving women), and due to the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "Between a man and disbelief or polytheism is the abandonment of prayer," and due to the consensus of the Companions regarding the disbelief of one who intentionally abandons prayer without an excuse.

Her case must be brought before the Sharia courts to punish her, for whoever neglects prayer is more neglectful of other things. And according to the view that abandoning prayer due to laziness does not constitute exiting the fold of Islam, she is deemed disobedient (nashiz) and deserves discipline until she prays, based on Allah's saying: (As for those [wives] from whom you fear disloyalty, advise them; then abandon them in bed; then strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them).

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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