I have been married for ten years. My problem – in brief – is that my wife neglects the prayer. I advised her repeatedly, but all my attempts were in vain. I threatened her with divorce but her response was temporary; she prays for a short while and then stops again, arguing that she is not convinced of prayer. We have three children. What should I do? Please advise. May Allaah Bless you.

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 ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

A husband is required to command his wife to pray. He has to advise her and exert his best in this regard. When all his attempts are in vain, it is obligatory on him to divorce her, according to the sound opinion in such a case. Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah was asked regarding a person with a prayer-negligent wife whether he is required to order her to pray and furthermore what he is required to do if she shows no response. He answered that the husband is required to order his wife to pray; and he is even required to order all those that he is able to order as long as there is no one else to do this. He quoted the verses where Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

•        {And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein.}[Quran 20: 132]

•        {O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire.}[Quran 66: 6]

In a Hadeeth, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Teach them and discipline them."

Ibn Taymiyyah added that a husband has to urge his wife to pray using all means. In case of persistence, it is obligatory to divorce her, according to the sound opinion. According to the consensus of scholars, a person who does not pray deserves punishment unless he prays. [Majmoo‘ Al-Fataawaa 32/277]

As for your statement: "arguing that she is not convinced of prayer," if you mean that she denies the obligation of prayer or neglects it out of rejection and denial, she is a non-Muslim, according to the consensus of scholars. In such a case, it is impermissible to keep her in wedlock, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And hold not to marriage bonds with disbelieving women.}[Quran 60: 10]