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Fatwa CenterWife neglects prayer and rejects hijab
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I need an answer, but a very right answer, and quick. I really have a very big problem. That is why it is very urgent to me. My family consists of me, my wife and my little son and daughter. Before marriage, I was not so careful about the religion. May Allaah give me increase in it. Please pray for me as well. Now, I am so much more eager to be good towards Allaah. I want to sacrifice my whole self for Islam so that I can be really good towards Allaah. May Allaah give me much more faith and make it stronger. Please pray for me. My wife does not wear the hijab. I tried to make her understand so much, but I see no way. She does not wear the Islamic dress at all. Her dress code is not good at all, and she even does not pray willingly at different times. When I make her understand about the importance of hijab and other, different Islamic issues from Quran and Hadith, she neglects these and does not want to listen to me at that time. After all my efforts, I decided to divorce her. However, my parents disagree very strongly with me about this. They are angry with me about this issue. They may curse me for this and already might have done so. My mother said that if I get divorced, I will not be happy and so on. My father and mother-in-law are also angry with me. So I might get cursed by many people. Again, I have two kids. My mother already spoke to me about a curse. What can I do in this situation? I already tried in many ways, but she does not follow me. She does not wear the hijab at all. My wife even becomes agry when I speak about the Quran and Hadith. I am really in stressed. According to Islam, what can I do so that I do not incur the anger of Allaah.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Firstly, may Allaah reward you for your adherence to the straight path. We implore Allaah to accept your repentance, forgive your sins, and increase you in righteousness and guidance; verily, He is All-Hearing and answers whoever calls upon Him.
You have mentioned a number of sins that your wife commits, the gravest of which are neglecting the prayer and not wearing the hijab. There is no doubt that the Muslim who neglects the obligation of performing the prayer would most likely neglect other religious obligations with greater reason, as has been established in an authentic hadeeth. The first thing that we advise you to do is to be patient with her and to turn to Allaah in supplication as much as you can. Verily, Allaah is Able to rectify her affairs; so implore Him sincerely. You should also advise her kindly and wisely. If you believe that it would be more effective if another person advises her, then you can seek the help of whoever can advise her. If she accepts the advice, then that is the required result; all praise be to Allaah. However, if she persistently continues to commit such sins, then it is recommended for you to end your marriage to her, and your parents have no right to object to it, and you are not obliged to obey them in this regard. Children's obedience to their parents has limits, as underlined in fatwa 131695.
If you divorce her and your parents are upset about it, then you should strive in earning their pleasure. If you choose to be patient and keep trying to reform her, then there also is no harm in that.
For more benefit, please refer to fataawa 84501, 86044 and 83244.
Allaah knows best.
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