Is My Irreligious Husband Halal For Me?

Question: I am married to a revert. He only prays on Fridays and fasts Ramadan when well. Is he haram for me because he doesn’t pray five times daily? He prays only Maghrib in Ramadan. He finds reading the Qur’an very heavy.

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Valid marriage

Thank you for your question. It is valid for you to be married to a man who doesn’t pray because he is still Muslim. If he leaves Islam, only then, your marriage is annulled.

Encourage lovingly

Encourage your husband to pray but never to the point of nagging. Be kind and supportive in whatever he does and make sure that your bond is strong. If he feels loved by you, respected, and cared for, he will gradually listen to your advice. For yourself, always pray on time and teach it to your children.

Good company

Try to surround yourself with the company of religious people. Your husband will see the fruit of their lifestyles and may understand or even mimic them. Invite them to your home and make sure they don’t nag him either. Let them serve as role models and supportive friends.

Please see this excellent answer on the topic as well:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/general-counsel/my-husband-doesnt-pray-how-do-i-advise-him/

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.