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Fatwa CenterTreatment of Muslim Wife Who Doesn't Pray or Wear Hijaab
Question
Could you please give me some advice how to treat a Muslim wife who doesn't pray and doesn't wear Hijab?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The Muslim is asked to choose a pious, chaste woman as his wife. After marrying her, he should teach her the religious matters, especially the obligatory prayers. He should urge her to perform the prayer and bring to her knowledge the importance of the prayer in Islamic Sharee’ah. The Prophet declared that the person who neglects the prayer becomes a non-Muslim as mentioned in the following Hadeeth: “One who intentionally does not pray until the time for the prayer is over is an unbeliever.”
The Prophet also said: “Between a person and disbelief is abandoning the prayer.” [Ahmed and Abu Daawood]
He should also teach her the importance of Hijaab in the Sharee’ah and that a Muslim woman is recommended by Allah to wear Hijaab (cover herself completely).
If one succeeds by this way to convince her, and she starts to adhere to the Islamic guidelines, then this is what is intended; otherwise, one may follow the steps set by Allah in the Quran in treating a disobedient wife.
Allah Says (what means): {But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.} [Quran 4:34]
In the above verse Allah instructs that the following three steps be taken:
A) Admonish the wife.
B) Leave her alone in bed.
C) Beat her lightly if useful. If these efforts cause more harm than benefit, then the husband has no other choice but to separate from such a wife. Being with a wife who does not perform the prayer is more harmful than divorcing her. In fact, the religion of the person is his precious capital, so he should not neglect it.
We ask Allah to guide you and us to what pleases Him.
For more benefit on the steps to be followed by the husband in dealing with a disobedient wife, please refer to Fataawa 89480, 84120, 357901, 85402, 400900, and 83244.
For more benefit on the ruling on abandoning the prayer or delaying it, please refer to Fataawa 384457, 377344, 88016, 84178, 83565, 87587, 90926, 88690 and 84403.
Allah knows best.
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